In the wake of the brouhaha that erupted between Invacare Corp. and the Scooter Store over the Scooter Store’s statement that it opposed the “carve out” of complex rehab, the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers released a statement stating that it strongly opposes competitive bidding in any form and in lieu of total repeal, the association supports HR 1845 as an alternative.  

Invacare stated last week that it would cease doing business with the Scooter Store due to its opposition to the cave out, and NAIMES has said in a public statement that it “applauds the stand that the Invacare Corporation has taken in unity with independent equipment suppliers.”

NAIMES said it strongly supports the carve-out of complex rehab as proposed in HR 2231, because while it “feels that competitive bidding is bad public policy for medical equipment acquisition, it supports bills that will mitigate the negative effects on consumers and suppliers.”

NAIMES said that the future of DME rests with the independent suppliers, which make up 74 percent of the total supplier market.  “Independent, small business suppliers will be affected most by the implementation of competitive bidding and the cap or cuts to oxygen services,” it said.
 
NAIMES joined other groups last week in launching a new grassroots lobbying campaign aimed at getting providers and patients to put pressure on Congress to reverse the current regulator course where HME providers are concerned.