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06/27/2019

Efforts Continue to Gain Support for Senate Ventilator Sign-On Letter

 

Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have extended the deadline for the Senate sign-on letter on keeping non-invasive ventilators out of the bidding program through today, June 27.  This will help accommodate offices that have expressed interest in the letter but haven’t yet committed to sign on.
 
You can help tilt the scales and add more Senators to the letter by calling (ask for the individual who handles healthcare related issues) or emailing your Senators with a request along these lines:
 
Please join the sign-on letter asking CMS to reconsider plans to keep non-invasive ventilators out of the Medicare competitive bidding program.  Subjecting these highly specialized, service-intensive products to a pricing mechanism primarily designed to identify lowest-cost suppliers will negatively impact the vulnerable patient population that depends on ventilators.  The letter closes Thursday.  Contact Sen. Cassidy’s or Sen. Brown’s office to sign on.”
 
If emailing, you might want to consider attaching these strong endorsements for keeping ventilators out of the bidding program from the ITEM Coalition, the ALS Association, and an ad-hoc coalition of patient advocates and clinical groups.
 
We have reports that 15 Senators have committed to sign onto the letter so far and urge HME providers to continue efforts to increase support.  OAMES is grateful for Sen. Brown's leadership role on the letter and we are working with Sen. Portman's office to obtain his support as well. If you have any questions or need assistance on the "ask", contact OAMES executive director Kam Yuricich at kam@oames.org 

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