WASHINGTON, D.C. – AAHomecare leaders are continuing to engage CMS and other Trump Administration decision makers on plans to restart the Competitive Bidding Program for DME. Two weeks ago, Josh Marx (AAHomecare chairman), joined Tom Ryan, Jay Witter, Kim Brummett, Cara Bachenheimer, and lobbyist Tom Barker in a follow-up meeting with policy advisors to the CMS Deputy Secretary.
In that session, the team made strong arguments on how provisions in the new bidding round would impact quality of care and patient choice. Brummett and Bachenheimer were especially effective in detailing how the reimagined bidding program ran counter to changes the first Trump Administration implemented to improve the Bidding Program in 2019, as well as current policy goals.
In addition, AAHomecare joined VGM, leaders from several of member companies, and DC lobbyists, in a meeting with Congressman Dan Meuser (R-PA), who is also raising the visibility of bidding program issues with his colleagues on Capitol Hill.
Administration engagement continued last week (Sept. 24) with Ryan, Bachenheimer, and Barker meeting with the Office of Management & Budget (OMB), a highly influential agency with regards to healthcare regulations that have fiscal impacts. Another high-level meeting with the Administration is currently in the works for next week.
HME Leaders Stepping Up
As noted in AAHomecare’s Sept. 10 Insider, the Association is allocating $3 million for additional lobbying support with strong ties to the Trump Administration as well as polling and media outreach, as needed, to be drawn from Association reserves and augmented by new fundraising efforts from the DME industry. More than 30 companies have supported the mission so far, with commitments ranging from $500 to leading contributions of $150,000 from both Cardinal Health and VGM.
HME providers can donate by credit card here, or contact Gordon Barnes at [email protected] to make a pledge. [Note: dollar figure at the credit card link represents payments by credit card only so far.]  The sustained pace of meetings and the strong fundraising response matches the urgency of the industry’s mission to protect patients, caregivers, and communities. See CBP Advocacy page for more about the campaign.
Picture: LR – Witter, Ryan, Michael Isaacson (VGM), Rep. Meuser, Peter Thomas (ITEM Coalition), Adam Miller (VGM).
