WASHINGTON--Nearly four months after its introduction, a proposed bill that would make changes to the competitive bidding provision in the Medicare Modernization Act has picked up 49 co-sponsors. But according to Washington insiders, the Hobson-Tanner bill (H.R. 3559) needs 150 additional names to catch Congress' attention.

Supporters say the legislation, introduced this summer by Reps. David Hobson, R-Ohio, and John Tanner, D-Tenn., would help to protect small providers and ensure beneficiaries' access to equipment when DME competitive bidding takes effect in 2007 (see HomeCare Monday, Aug. 1).

"If we can get 200 co-signers, I think there's a very good chance we can get this bill passed," said Wayne Grau, New England senior area manager for Exeter, Pa.-based Pride Mobility Products, who is leading a nationwide educational effort to drum up support for the legislation.

One of the reasons the bill has not gathered more co-signers, he said, is that the industry has been distracted by other recent issues such as changes to mobility policies and reimbursement cuts. "Look at all of the things that have come up in the past few months. A lot of people in the industry have put the bill on the back burner," said Grau, who is also government relations chair for the New England Medical Equipment Dealers Association (NEMED). "I think people have lost a little focus."

Grau has been traveling the country speaking to providers, state associations and representatives in an effort to bring the industry's attention back to the bill. The goal is to gather 100 signatures by mid-January and 200 by mid-February, he said. Capitol Hill experts say at least 100 co-sponsors will be needed in order to get a companion bill introduced in the Senate.

One of the most important things providers can do, supporters say, is to educate their members of Congress.

"Right now this bill is the one tangible thing the industry can point to that rectifies some of our concerns with the [competitive bidding] regulation," said Don Clayback, senior vice president of networks for Lubbock, Texas-based The Med Group.

"I think people need to keep contacting representatives and continue to push forward and tell the story. What we need to do is re-energize people to see if we can get over that 100-mark."

While most representatives aren't aware the Hobson-Tanner bill exists--about 1,000 bills are introduced every session--Grau points out, many have been receptive, especially when they learn the bill doesn't ask for more money.

"I honestly don't think they're sitting in Washington saying, 'We need to stick it to the medical equipment guys.' They just don't know how [competitive bidding is] going to affect providers and the beneficiaries," he said. To date, he has held more than 18 meetings and gained support from nine legislators for the bill.

The text of the Hobson-Tanner Bill, called the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Access Act of 2005, or H.R. 3559, is available at http://thomas.loc.gov.

For a list of current co-sponsors, click here.

Find your members of Congress at www.us.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml.