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News
7/13/2009
JAMES Attends Congressman Rush Holt's Healthcare Reform Round-Table Discussion
On Monday, July 13, 2009, Dr. Kevin Saluck, JAMES Vice President attended Congressman Rush Holt's healthcare reform round-table discussion. JAMES was chosen by Congressman Holt to represent the medical device/equipment stakeholders.
Congressman Holt is a representative on the House Tri-Committee for healthcare reform. The expectation is that the House will pass this bill by the end of July. It is the highest priority of the President to pass a $900 billion healthcare reform by the end of this year.
Dr. Saluck discussed the cuts to the oxygen benefit, including the cap, the cuts to the complex rehab benefit and the flawed competitive bidding process.
Congressman Holt questioned Dr. Saluck about the oxygen cap, as he was interpreting it incorrectly. Dr. Saluck explained the oxygen cap, and also explained that the cost of the equipment was a very small portion of the entire therapy. Dr. Saluck went on to say that 72% of the costs are not directly based on the equipment itself. It was discussed how licensed respiratory therapists are required under New Jersey state law to be a part of the home oxygen therapy component, and there is no separate reimbursement for this service. Dr. Saluck also discussed the 24/7 service that is made available by home oxygen therapy providers.
In attendance was the National Federation of Independent Businesses and Dr. Saluck was able to relate, along with their representative, as to how damaging competitive bidding will be to small, independent businesses. Dr. Saluck discussed how Round One of competitive bidding was set to reduce 90% of providers in those MSA's. Congressman Holt asked Dr. Saluck what our industry had expected out of MIPPA, and Dr. Saluck told him an 18-24 month delay of the program so it could be re-worked. Dr. Saluck explained that minimal changes were made to the program and that it was rolled back out within 6 months. Congressman Holt talked about discharging patients out of hospitals earlier as a method of cost savings, and Dr. Saluck reminded him that competitive bidding will actually delay hospital discharges due to the layer of complexity it will add to the discharge process.
Congressman Holt has asked that JAMES provide follow-up information to his office on these topics and we are in the process of putting together the requested information.
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