Wednesday, November 6, 2013
LOVELAND, Colo. (Nov. 6, 2013)—Doug Coleman, president of the Colorado Association for Medical Equipment Services (CAMES), demonstrated what can happen when providers aggressively engage in the fight against the Medicare bidding program: he signed up a new cosponsor for H.R. 1717, legislation that would replace the badly flawed bidding program with a market pricing system. Because of his persistence, Rep. Diana DeGette (D) has promised to become the sixth member of the Colorado congressional delegation to support the legislation.
Coleman, who is also CEO at Major Medical Supply in Loveland, has been trying to win over Rep. DeGette for several years. “When I believe passionately in something, I fight until I’m successful or until it’s totally over,” he says as a way of explaining his perseverance.
Major Medical Supply submitted a number of reasonably priced bids, but did not win any contracts. Now, their offices outside of bid areas are being impacted because private insurers are adopting the ridiculously low rates being imposed by the bidding program.
Coleman won’t be stopped. Next, he is targeting Rep. Jared Polis (D), the last member of the state’s delegation not to support the legislation, which would save tax dollars without denying beneficiary access to HME or bankrupting good companies.
“It’s pretty easy to establish a working relationship with a member of Congress,” Coleman says. “Make periodic, friendly, brief calls to the health staffer in their office. It only takes five minutes every couple of weeks.” Visit aahomecare.org.
