HME Business

H.R. 1041 Up to 96 Co-Sponsors

Industry hustles during Congressional break, so does CMS.

• By David Kopf
• May 12, 2011

H.R. 1041, the House bill introduced by Representatives Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) that calls for the repeal of the bid program, has gained another eight co-sponsors during the Congressional break, bringing the total number of co-sponsors to 96.

The latest lawmakers to join supporters of competitive bidding repeal are:

• Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.)
• Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Ia.)
• Rep. Dan Benishek (R-Mich.)
• Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.)
• Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.)
• Rep. John Carter (R-Texas)
• Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.)
• Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.)

The American Association for Homecare noted that the latest total means providers in Iowa (with five Representatives) and Vermont (one Representative) have achieved 100 percent of their House delegations as cosponsors for H.R. 1041. However, the association also noted that California, which has 53 Representatives, so far has no cosponsors for the bill.

Tarting up Competitive Bidding

While providers have been lobbying lawmakers, the American Association for Homecare also reported that CMS has been busy trying to sell the competitive bidding program on the Hill.

Labeling the agency’s efforts as “more lipstick on a pig,” AAHoemcare reported that CMS officials briefed House and Senate staff about the fatally flawed “competitive” bidding program.

AAHomecare said that, according to its Capitol Hill sources,CMS told congressional staff the same old information: that bidding is still on track and running smoothly with “virtually no complaints.”  

Like the recent PAOC meeting, CMS reported again that the agency has received only 43 complaints out of the 54,000 “inquiries” they have received about the bidding program.  AAHomecare reported that Senate staff pressed CMS to describe the difference between a complaint and an inquiry but the Agency was unable to give a suitable answer.  

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