ACTION ALERT
Preserve the First Month Purchase Option
Dear PMC Members:
While Congress is in recess this week for their 4th of July “District Work Period,” its a perfect opportunity for power mobility stakeholders to voice their opposition to the elimination of the first month purchase option for all power wheelchairs that was included in the House health care reform bill and is rumored to be in the legislation to be considered by the Senate Finance Committee in the coming weeks. As you are aware, elimination of the first month purchase option will restrict beneficiary access, create major cash flow issues for providers and ultimate cost the Medicare program more resources to purchase power chairs.
Members of Congress will be holding district office hours, conducting town hall meetings and marching in 4th of July parades. Power mobility device providers should take any of these opportunities to talk to their Congressional representatives about the consequences of the elimination of the purchase option and put the issue on their radar screen. Schedules and office hours of many Members of Congress can be found on their websites.
You can also call your Member of Congress in Washington, DC by going through the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-225-3121. E-mail is another option.
Here’s some draft language for a possible e-mail or phone call to your Member of Congress or their staff:
My understanding is section 1141 of the discussion draft of the House health reform bill (page 208 of the .pdf) would eliminate the beneficiary choice to purchase power mobility. The elimination of the first month purchase option could lead to a restriction in access as small suppliers would be forced to grapple with major cash flow issues if they have to subsist on Medicare rental payments. In addition, Medicare rental payments for power mobility will average 5% higher than if purchased outright. I have attached talking points on this issue for your review.
Attached (1stmonth.6-09tp-1.doc)are the talking points referenced in the draft e-mail. As always feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need further information.
