As providers push for members of the House of Representatives to add their signatures to a Congressional sign-on letter, a similar letter is being circulated among the House the Small Business Committee, calling for the same types reforms, according to the VGM Group Inc.
Once the letter has reached all SBA committee members, it will be passed on to HHS Secretary Tom Price and CMS Administrator Seema Verma.
The letter’s author, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.), says the Small Business Committee is gravely concerned providers dropping from the Medicare program, particularly those affected by the national expansion.
“These small businesses and their owners serve the individuals in our communities, and often times they have known their clients for years,” he said. “However, the policies of the previous administration have put durable medical equipment stores in jeopardy with poor regulations and steep cuts.”
The letter was driven by the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services (MAMES), and the association’s president, Patrick Naeger, thanked Luetkemeyer for circulating the letter.
“I am grateful to my friend, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, for recognizing the destruction small businesses like mine and thousands of others across the country are facing as a result of Medicare competitive bidding rural fee schedule cuts,” Naeger said. “Because DMEPOS providers are mostly small businesses, it is imperative to have the support of those in Congress who fight for small business. I appreciate Congressman Luetkemeyer, his staff, and other members of the Small Business Committee for their support.”
“Thanks to a highly engaged grassroots coalition,” added John Gallagher, vice president of VGM Government Relations. “Congress is making it clear that these CMS policies are not helping small businesses in America. It is increasingly difficult for small businesses to sustain these deep reimbursement cuts while managing to navigate through the endless red tape of doing business.”