From: Patrick Wildman <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Victory on Comp Bidding
To: "Sharon Matland" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Alisa Brownlee" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx>, "Alisa Brownlee" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Sue Humphries" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Nancy Baily" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx>, "Marlin Seymour" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "lisa" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Linda Talmon" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Dawn Muroff" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 6:41 PM

For those who have not heard, we were victorious on competitive bidding this afternoon as the Senate voted 69-30 to pass legislation that excludes power chairs from competitive bidding and also delays the entire program for 18 months.  You should be receiving an update from us shortly if you did not receive it already.  

 

The bill now goes to the President.  He has signaled a veto b/c of concerns with cuts to Medicare Advantage payments, but we have the votes in the House and Senate to override the veto based on the margin of victory we had in both chambers.

 

Since the program already was implemented, albeit for a week, we still may see some problems, confusion etc, so please keep me posted of any problems.   Also, the bill included a payment cut to suppliers, which we were not as pleased with, and which could have impacts down the road.  We will continue to work on that issue, but again, please keep me posted of any concerns/problems.

 

Thanks again for all of your efforts!  I appreciate it and please let me know if you have any questions. 

 

- Pat

 

Patrick Wildman
Director, Communications and Public Policy
The ALS Association
601 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Suite 900 , South Bldg.
Washington , DC 20004
ph: (202) 638-6997
Toll-free: 1-877-444-ALSA
fax: (202) 638-6316
e-mail: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx