Action Alerts –Issues and Bills You Should be Watching

GENETIC INFORMATION NONDISCRIMINATION ACT OF 2007 

"Home Oxygen Threatened Again"
Medicare benefits for durable medical equipment (DME) have taken a hit the past few years. Now there is more bad news. A bill has been introduced which will erode benefits even more. Among the provisions are a reduction of the oxygen rental period from 36 to 13 months, elimination of the first-month purchase option for power wheelchairs, and a 5-year freeze on home health care reimbursement updates.

For more information, read the following:
Editorial by Greg Thompson of HME Today
Home Oxygen Threatened Again by Ann Howard

“Home Oxygen Bill Introduced to Restore Benefits for DME”
Physician Congressman Tom Price has introduced a bill to restore the cuts in DME coverage, but it is lacking the support it needs.

You need to know what is at stake and take a stand. Read:
Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act (H.R. 621)
 

Pulmonary Hypertension Research Act of 2005 (Introduced in House) 109th CONGRESS
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the expansion, intensification, and coordination of the activities of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute with respect to research on pulmonary hypertension.

This bill HR 3005 (formerly HR 1316) is now before Congress and if passed will go to the Senate as S 1774.  Continued research is a must and this bill will provide, along with other things: basic and clinical research into the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control and treatment of PH; training programs for scientists and health professionals; continued education for health professionals on PH; the establishment of a pulmonary hypertension data system and clearinghouse at NHLBI (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute which is part of the National Institutes of Health).  This funding is essential to help provide the cure for pulmonary hypertension.
 

Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2005 – S.1217 (109th Congress)
Purpose: A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes.

Outcomes of Recent Legislation

The 2005 Deficit Reduction Bill (S.1932) which included some important changes in the way Medicare and Medicaid pay for home oxygen, passed quietly in February of 2006. If you’re using supplemental oxygen, after three years beginning January 1, 2006, you will own your equipment and be responsible for maintaining it. Here are links for more information:

CMS ANNOUNCES PAYMENT CHANGES FOR MEDICARE HOME HEALTH SERVICES AND CERTAIN DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Here is a link to the 416 pages of the formal ruling

Recent Items From the PHCentral Newsroom:

Democrats Press House To Expand Health Care Bill July 23, 2007

A Battle Over Expansion Of Children’s Insurance July 9, 2007

Senate Rejects Drug Imports; House Has Similar Bill May 8, 2007

Senate Likely To Back Drug Reimportation May 4, 2007

WRITE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS – YOUR OPINION COUNTS!

This link will take you to the Legislative Action Center hosted by the League of Women Voters. Just enter your zip code and click "GO"

SEARCH THE LIBRARY OF COMMERCE FOR CURRENT OR PAST LEGISLATION INCLUDING THE BILLS LISTED ABOVE.

You may search the Library of Commerce by bill number or by typing in key worlds. Note: you need to specify the congress number to narrow down your search as the bill numbering system begins fresh every year. For 2005-6, the congress is numbered at 109.

Useful Resources:

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION — Bills and information about your Representatives and Senators

This will give you your Representatives  phone numbers

This will give you your Senators phone numbers.

With this link you can find any bill that is currently before Congress or the Senate