WATERLOO, Iowa--Last Chance for Patient Choice will sponsor a series of visits at congressional offices around the country this summer.

Last Chance is working with state associations and independent providers to set up the Meet and Greet Congressional Marathon, July 28 through Aug. 7, and is encouraging participants to bring oxygen patients and Medicare beneficiaries with them. The organization also will provide informational packets for elected officials and fact sheets to be distributed to local media.

"Last Chance believes that if representatives and senators truly understand the devastating effects the oxygen cap and selective contracting, a.k.a. competitive bidding, will have on patients, they will be shocked, and head back to Capitol Hill to make things right," said John Gallagher, vice president of Last Chance.

Last Chance was formed by The VGM Group to fight competitive bidding and other health care legislation that affects the HME industry. The organization's goals for the marathon, according to Gallagher, include:

• introducing elected officials to real users of HME;
• educating elected officials about HME;
• gaining additional support for H.R. 3559 (the Hobson-Tanner Bill, which would soften the blow of Medicare DME competitive bidding for small providers) and a Senate companion bill;
• gathering support for H.R. 5513, which would remove the oxygen capped rental provision from the Deficit Reduction Act; and
• raising support for Last Chance's Oxygen Patients' Bill of Rights.

For more information, contact Gallagher at (800) 642-6065 or visit www.lastchanceforpatients.org.

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