Thank You Note for Our Legislative Partners

Next week, as a part of the "AAHomecare on Capitol Hill Day" I will be flying to Washington DC to meet with representatives of our Congressional and Senate leadership.  I have five meetings scheduled with the offices of; Congressman Michael Capuano, Congressman Barney Frank, Congressman Bill Delahunt, Senator Ted Kennedy (HELP Committee), and Senator John  Kerry.

These meetings are designed to educate our elected officials on the value companies like ours bring to the healthcare marketplace, as well as discuss the impact pending, and previously enacted legislation, is or could have on our industry.  We have been under fire for some time now, wrongly so I would argue.  These trips are an important element in our overall public education efforts and I enjoy the opportunity to attend these meetings and meet with key policy makers to discuss the future direction of healthcare in the United States.

The following letter, personalized, will accompany the packet of information I leave for each office:

Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me to discuss the current state of legislative affairs on healthcare, specifically on the Medicare Part B Durable Medical Equipment and Home Respiratory Care benefits.

I can certainly appreciate the delicate state of affairs in the current fiscal environment and the need to aggressively seek to reduce expenditures, however I would caution against further cuts to the DME benefits under Medicare and remind you that DME has been the slowest growing sub-category in Medicare’s expenditures and homecare remains the preferred method of receiving care, as well as the most cost efficient care delivery format.

Recent changes to the payment structure, including a 9.5% payment cut and a 36 month cap on oxygen reimbursement have further weakened an already damaged healthcare sector. If we continue to fail to recognize the costs and benefits associated with this benefit we, as a country, run the risk of hobbling the sector and creating legitimate access issues to this important benefit. We must place homecare at the center of legislative healthcare reform and acknowledge that an efficient and effective homecare delivery system is critical to cost effective healthcare reform in this country.

I look forward to a continuing dialogue with your office and sincerely appreciate you taking the time to meet. I am confident that with our advocacy, and your leadership, we can help craft legislation that is fair, cost effective, and benefits our nations growing senior population.

With Sincere Thanks,

Gary M. Sheehan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Direct: (508) 927-7000
Email: gsheehan@capemedical.net