MIPA Advocates...
On APRIL 13, 2012, MIPA to host meeting with Congressman Dave Camp. Attached please find an invitation to a fundraiser for Dave Camp, Congressman from Michigan’s 4th District and Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. In his role as Chairman of Ways and Means, Congressman Camp has great influence and authority in matters pertaining to Medicare.
I strongly urge you to both contribute to the event for Mr. Camp and to make every attempt to attend. Mr. Camp is very knowledgeable regarding recent developments of Competitive Bidding and Market Pricing Plan (MPP). This is your chance to let him know how very important it is to stop Competitive Bidding and implement MPP as soon as possible.
Please join me and the leaders of the HME industry here in Michigan as we honor Congressman Camp. Your industry needs you now!
Tim Hatt
MIPA Vice Chairman
MIPA Legislative Committee Chairman
Market Pricing Program - UPDATE (November 1, 2011). Last week, and at no cost to MIPA, six MIPA Board members were in attendance at the MedTrade Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. While there were many issues to discuss, the most pressing at this time is the recently proposed reform of the poorly designed Competitive Bidding program for DME entitled Market Pricing Program (MPP). In the American Association of Homecare State Leaders Advisory Council meeting, we heard exactly where we are in the process. (read more)
We hosted our first Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, with a follow-up visit on October 5th. Association Members met with State Legislators to discuss the MIPA Legislative Agenda:
1.) Members of the Michigan Independent Providers Association call upon the legislature to enact legislation that protects the rights of the citizens of Michigan to choose the provider they wish to utilize when they are being discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility. This Patient Protection Act will ensure acute care providers respect the rights of individuals to choose.
2.) MIPA opposes Senate Bills 293 and 294 as an assault upon the victims of automobile accidents. Any cap on auto no-fault benefits is a cost shift to health insurance plans and individuals that will most certainly cause negative health outcomes.
3.) MIPA members oppose form MSA 1656, the Medicaid form that is required for the provision of all wheelchairs. While MIPA does not oppose the use of some justification documentation for the provision of complex rehabilitation equipment, we strongly believe the form needs simplification for complex equipment and eradication for simple wheelchair provision.
Representing Community-Based Providers.
MIPA Leaders are working to educate legislators in Michigan and in Washington D.C. about the need for a diverse provider market. Independent DME and home health services empower patients in their communities through CHOICE. Our friends, neighbors and families deserve the opportunity to choose who will provide services of the most personal nature. Independent providers represent a wide range of services and opportunities to establish those personal relationships. Providers that are also associated with referring agencies have a conflict of interest that may be a disadvantage to the patient.
Pressures on our industry increased with legislative actions such as the healthcare reform bill. Non–independent DME providers formed a national coalition to advance positions promoting their businesses. These interests have weighed heavily in crafting new health care regulations that favor their equipment and services, to the exclusion of the independent provider. Are you feeling the squeeze? We can help.
We are committed to advocating at the state and federal levels for independently-owned businesses in the home medical product and service lines.
MIPA strongly supports HR 1041, Fairness in Medicare Bidding Act. Has your Representative signed on to support the repeal of "Competitive Bidding?" more...
MIPA meetings with MDCH yield new DMEPOS pricing model. more...