NCAMES In the News...
'NCAMES Kicks Up PR Efforts, Tackles HME's 'Bum Rap'
May 26th, 2010
HME News states, “There are few state associations that have been more successful placing stories about "suicide bidding" with local newspapers and TV and radio stations than the North Carolina Association of Medical Equipment Services (NCAMES).”
Click here to read full story
May 11th, 2010
CARY, N.C. — NCAMES has taken to the airwaves in an effort to get the word out about competitive bidding.
"Several months back we kind of hit a plateau in support of H.R. 3790 [to repeal competitive bidding] and we realized we weren't making any headway, so we felt the need to kick it up a notch," said Beth Bowen, executive director of the North Carolina Association for Medical Equipment Services.
"We wanted to try to get the number of cosponsors for 3790 up. That was one of our first goals, but we also wanted to help improve and change the image of our industry because we know it's gotten a bum rap in the media."
Click here to read the rest of Homecare Magazine's Article
“H.R. 3790” – Beth Bowen, North Carolina Association for Medical Equipment Services
April 29, 2010
What is the history behind H.R. 3790, new legislation to correct flaws in Medicare’s restrictive HME bidding program? NCAMES Executive Director Beth Bowen explains why H.R. 3790 was crafted, what its benefits will be for businesses and home health care patients, and where the proposed bill currently stands in the U.S. Congress.
Click here to listen to the podcast
"Suicide Bidding" - Frank Trammell, Carolina's Home Medical Equipment, Inc.
In this podcast, Mr. Trammell discusses the cruel reality of what this restrictive Medicare bidding for home medical equipment services means and how it will negatively impact small businesses, employment and access to quality care by our seniors. The fact that out of state companies with no infrastructure in North Carolina are allowed to bid here exemplifies how quality service will be a thing of the past.
Click here to download the full podcast
Carolina’s Home Medical Equipment, Inc. is a locally owned and operated family business in Matthews, N.C. that built its business on quality products and extreme service. The company provides a full line of durable medical equipment and respiratory products including wheelchairs, walkers, power wheelchairs, scooters, hospital beds, lift chairs, bathroom safety, oxygen, CPAP and much more.
For more information, visit www.chmei.com.
Rep. Shuler Addresses American Association for Home Care
March 3rd, 2010
On Wednesday, March 3rd, U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) spoke to the American Association for Homecare (AA Homecare) legislative conference taking place in Washington, DC. Rep. Shuler has been actively involved in addressing problems with the restrictive Medicare bidding process for durable medical equipment that negatively impacts NCAMES members and their patients.
Click here to hear Rep. Shuler's Address
Congressman Kissell Visits Home Assist Medical in Laurinburg
February 22, 2010
Congressman Kissell’s visit to Home Assist Medical in Laurinburg shows that he is working diligently to help small businesses continue to serve the medical equipment needs of their community - ensuring shorter hospital stays and keeping a high quality of life remains a top priority!
Beth Bowen (NCAMES) Writes to the Triangle Business Journal
February 19, 2010
This letter to the Triangle Business Journal by Beth Bowen was featured in the editorial section on February 19, 2010. It spoke to an important issue for our industry: the bidding program by Medicare will eliminate jobs, close businesses, plus harm patient choice and access.
Click Here to Read Beth's Letter to the Editor
Choice Home Medical Thanks Congressman Coble
February 17, 2010
NCAMES Member, Keith Blough, Choice Home Medical in Greensboro gets a Letter to the Editor published in the Greensboro News and Record thanking Congressman Coble for his support of H.R. 3790. Click here for article “Letter to the Editor – Greensboro News and Record”
NCAMES Member, Alliance Medical, is featured in Patient Care Story
January 29, 2010
Click this link to the video: http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/621295/health-professionals-prepare-in-case-of-power-outages
ALBEMARLE -- Winter weather can knock out power, and that can be dangerous for people who rely on electricity for their medical equipment. As the winter storm approached Friday, health care offices were calling patients to make sure they had oxygen, back-up batteries and a plan in case the storm causes outages. NCAMES Member, Alliance Medical discusses what happens during preparations and what they do to care for their patients. Cynthia Jarman, in past storms, had to deliver oxygen tanks personally for four days. Brooke Ritchie stressed how important patient and caregiver education is BEFORE the weather emergency so that they are prepared. Ritchie goes on to say the patients can be placed on priority with their electric company to ensure quicker service during an emergency.
NCAMES Does Story on Why DMEPOS Bidding Needs to be Eliminated
January 18, 2010
News Carolina - Channel 14 ran this story on January 18, 2010. Click this link to the video: http://news14.com/triangle-news-30-content/top_stories/620748/medicare-program-concerns-businesses--patients
DURHAM -- For many patients, their first stop after being released from the hospital is at a medical supply store. Under some new federal changes though, patients might not be able to pick which store they go to. “It’s going to eliminate patient access,” said Marcia Ladd, owner of Triangle Aftercare in Durham. “It’s going to restrict patient choice and its going to eliminate probably 80-90 percent of the durable medical equipment businesses in this country.” Ladd says the idea of forcing businesses to offer equipment for the lowest price and cut out their competitors completely ignores the fact their business is about more than just equipment. “And when you treat an industry that is service driven like our industry as if your bidding for containers, that's stupid,” added Ladd.
The North Carolina Association of Medical Equipment Services agrees with this assessment. They say this will lead to one store providing one piece of equipment, and another, a different one. Their fear is keeping track of which store has what might prove too much for elderly Medicare patients. “Who do they call?” asked Beth Bowen, NCAMES executive director. “If they can't figure it out who do they call, they go to the hospital.” Bowen says this is an option that will end up costing the patients and the Medicare program more money. An identical bidding process was tried in 2008, but Congress cut it off because of problems. “There were providers that got bids in that area ... that had never ever provided oxygen to a patient, and they won an oxygen bid,” said Bowen. This round of bidding has already taken place in Charlotte, and is expected to go into effect in January of 2011. Asheville, Greensboro and Raleigh will face the same process next year.
Ladd says she understands wanting to save money, but doesn't believe this is the way to do it.“But to come in and put a program in that is as poorly planned and is as poorly executed as this competitive bidding has been just doesn't make any sense,” said Ladd.
There is a bill before Congress that would eliminate this bidding process, but force providers to cut cost for Medicare patients. Industry members say they prefer this option. NCAMES will be discussing this issue in their annual winter meeting in Greensboro later this week
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