The two congressmen best-known to DME providers will kick off Medtrade 2007 next month in Orlando, joining the crowd in the Orange County Convention Center by video.

Rep. John Tanner (D-TN) and Rep. David Hobson (R-OH) will keynote Medtrade with addresses about the legislative and regulatory issues that overshadow most everything at this year’s gathering. The congressmen who cosponsored the well-known Tanner-Hobson bill (H.R. 1845) that would blunt the impact of competitive bidding will speak on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 a.m. in room W110A/B.

“The Medtrade staff is well aware of the challenges facing the HME industry and that is why we are pleased to offer a program that emphasizes these issues,” said show director Kevin Bird. “The keynote address . . . is positioned to launch the show with the most up-to-date information on the current situation in Washington.”

Other educational conference sessions will include a Medicare update by Medicare consultant Andrea Stark; a look at competitive bidding and complex rehab by Invacare’s Cara Bachenheimer; an overview of the power mobility device industry by Dan Meuser and Seth Johnson of Pride Mobility; and an update on respiratory issues of concern to providers and manufacturers by Marcia Nusgart of the Coalition of Respiratory Care Manufacturers and Joseph Lewarski of Invacare.