CMS to Brief Congress Next Week
Providers urged to preempt bidding meetings slated with House commitees and Senate staff.
- By David Kopf
- Mar 08, 2012
CMS will brief members of the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees, as well as Senate staffers on March 14, according to the American Association, which learned of the meetings from its sources on the Hill.
CMS will update Senate staff on competitive bidding on March 14 at 2:00 p.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room SD-430. The time and place for the House briefing has not been announced.
In response, the association is urgine HME providers to make their Senators and Representative aware of the briefings, and to ensure their staff attend the briefing and ask CMS tough questions about the program, as well asrequest that CMS release additional information about the bidding program.
Providers wishing for more information about the briefings should contact Jay Witter via email at jayw@aahomecare.org, or by phone at (703) 535-1884.
In related news, AAHomecare is continuing its push for enactment of the Market Pricing Program (more information can be found at http://www.aahomecare.org/associations/3208/files/MPP_IssuePaperBillSummary.pdf), which offers an alternative to the current competitive bidding system. The association says it is imperative that providers ensure all congressional offices understand the dangers of the bidding system and its expansion to 91 additional areas. Background information, issue briefs and talking points can be obtained at http://www.aahomecare.org/cde.cfm?event=348787.
About the Author
David Kopf is the Editor of HME Business.