H.R. 3790 Up to 203 Co-Sponsors
Bill calling for the repeal of competitive bidding closes in on its goal of 216 lawmakers.
- By David Kopf
- Apr 15, 2010
The industry’s concerted lobbying efforts on behalf of H.R. 3790, the bill introduced by Rep. Kendrick Meek (D.-Fla.) that calls for the repeal of CMS’s competitive bidding program, that took place during the congressional spring recess have come to fruition. Commitments made by lawmakers during the district work period have resulted in enough additional co-sponsorships to bring the total tally to 203.
The new co-sponsorships bring the bill well within reach of its goal of 216 co-sponsorships (the total number slightly down from 218, due to vacancies within the House). As expected last week, the incoming support for the Meek bill has been bi-partisan.
Co-sponsors for this week include:
- Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah)
- Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.)
- Rep. John J. Hall (D-N.Y.)
- Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.)
- Rep. Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn.)
- Rep. John R. Carter (R-Texas)
- Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.)
- Rep. Tim Holden (D-Pa.)
- Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.)
- Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.)
- Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.)
- Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.)
- Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.)
- Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.)
- Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.)
- Rep. Bobby Bright (D-Ala.)
- Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Ohio)
- Rep. Frank D. Lucas (R-Okla.)
A full list of co-sponsors can be obtained at the Library of Congress Thomas search. Visit http://thomas.loc.gov/, select “bill number,” enter “H.R. 3790” and click “search.” You will be taken to a summary page for the bill that provides information about the Meek Bill, as well as a link to a list of co-sponsors that can be sorted by date of sign-on, or alphabetically by last name.
As the Meek bill gains momentum, state and national HME associations are reminding providers that there is still work to be done, even if a providers’ Representative has signed on.
“Co-sponsors of the bill need to contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as well as House Ways and Means Committee Chair Sander Levin and Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman and ask them to include the bill in a legislative vehicle that will go to the House floor for a vote,” read a statement from the American Association of Homecare. “If your Representative is a co-sponsor, thank them and ask them to urge House leaders to take action on the bill. AAHomecare is also working with the House committees with jurisdiction over Medicare to move the H.R. 3790 language to the House floor for a vote.”
AAHomecare also said it is also working with Senate lawmakers to introduce the Meek bill into that body, and called on providers to notify the association if their Senator has expressed support for the Meek bill.
About the Author
David Kopf is the Editor of HME Business.