California HME Update

CAMPS Members Call to ACTION

Let's Eliminate Competitive Bidding Once and For All! Participate in VGM's "Shut Down the Switchboard" Event

We believe that the DME industry has what it takes in the fight to eliminate the competitive bidding program, and we don't want to lose momentum to apathy now! H.R. 3790, legislation to repeal competitive bidding, started off by gaining an incredible amount of support early on. In the last few weeks, however, we've noticed that the industry seems to have lost a bit of its firepower. It's time to get that momentum back on our side and eliminate this program once and for all!

Wednesday, Dec. 2, VGM will be conducting a "Shut Down the Switchboard" event. John Gallagher, VP, Government Relations, VGM, will host the live webcast, and he needs your support.

The purpose of "Shut Down the Switchboard" is to flood the congressional phone lines in an attempt to garner as much support for H.R. 3790as possible in a single afternoon. When properly delivered the facts, our legislators have in large part been very supportive of this legislation which not only eliminates the program, but does so in a budget neutral manner by offering a pay-for. The bill currently has 76 co-sponsors, a long way from where it needs to be to ensure inclusion in a larger health care package. With your help, we can ultimately reach the 218 co-sponsors needed for majority support.

Should our industry fail to achieve greater than 50% support for H.R. 3790, NCB will move forward. Providers in and around the nine round one competitive bidding areas are currently going through the bidding process, and stand to learn their fate by next summer, with the likelihood that approximately 90% of local bidding entities will not be offered contracts and contracted suppliers will face cuts of greater than 30% below the 2008 allowables. Round two bidding entities, likely including 91 additional bidding areas, are to bid in 2011 and learn their fate as a Medicare providers shortly thereafter. Providers in non-competitively bid areas also face the inevitable in that bid rates will ultimately be spread to non-bid areas. This program affects each and every provider, beneficiary and association, and we need to stop it NOW, so join us tomorrow in supporting "Shut Down the Switchboard":

Wednesday, December 2
1:00 - 5:00 p.m. CST
Call-in: (888) 264-1979
Call I.D.: 44470618
Webcast: Click Here

Steps to follow for tomorrow's "Shut Down the Switchboard" event:

1.      Visit the "Shut Down the Switchboard" Website to view the live webcast

2.      Call (888) 264-1979, Passcode 44470618 to listen to "Shut Down the Switchboard" and ask questions of John Gallagher

3.      Check to see if your representative has signed on to H.R. 3790. This step is imperative, as it is extremely important to thank those whom have already signed on and ask for support only from those who have yet to sign on to the bill.

4.      Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to speak with your representative. You will be asked for your ZIP code and then transferred to the office of your representative. Ask to speak with the Health Legislative Assistant. Once speaking to the assistant, follow the instructions provided below:

Provider Call Instructions
Beneficiary Call Instructions
Physician Call Instructions

Note: If your representative has already signed on to H.R. 3790, please remember to call and thank them for their support.

Also, be respectful when asking for support from those who have not signed on.

5. Log your calls to the U.S. Capital switchboard on the "Shut Down the Switchboard" Website

"Shut Down the Switchboard" events have been extremely successful in the past, and will again feature a competition between states. The goal is to see that 50,000 calls are made. We need your support, and ask that you, your patients, employees, family, and friends all participate. Providers will post online the number of calls made that are attributable to their facility, and totals for each state will be posted for all to see. The state logging the most calls will be offered one Heartland Conference tuition and lodging. Join your fellow state association members in seeing that our state leads the pack!

The live webcast will be held this Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 1:00-5:00 CST. For more information, including talking points, call-in information, and web links, visit www.vgm.com in the hours leading up to the event.