The SCOOTER Store Public Affairs

The SCOOTER Store - Public Affairs

Latest Information

• Competitive Bidding - Phase 2 Announced

  Medicare recently announced the second phase of the competitive bidding program. This phase also includes durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies, and will expand to an additional 91 regions/metropolitan areas, effective July 1, 2013. The schedule for bidding will be announced this fall and bidding will begin in winter 2012. More details will be added to our Competitive Bidding Resource Center as they become available.

• Competitive Bidding

  The SCOOTER Store has created this new informational site to discuss Medicare's new Competitive Bidding Program. The site reviews the specifics of the Competitive Bidding Program, as well as questions and answers on how changes to Medicare as a result of this program may affect physicians, beneficiaries and caregivers.

• HealthCare.gov

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a new public website dedicated to help Americans better understand the information and resources needed to help gain access to quality, affordable health care coverage. HealthCare.gov is the first website to provide American consumers with multiple health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool.

• New Health Care Website Launches

  A new health care website went live on July 1 to provide Americans a place to compare and research health insurance plans online.

• What does the health-care law mean to me?

  The Washington Post recently added an application to their website that lets user determine if the health-care overhaul will affect their health coverage and taxes based on your income, family size and current insurance status. You can go to this website to see how the new healthcare legislation may impact you and your family.

• CEO Doug Harrison responds to Business Week article, "Clash over Wheelchairs in Health-Care Reform":

  We are concerned that data from an incomplete Health and Human Service Dept. Office of Inspector General (OIG) report was cited in this story . The OIG acknowledges that their report on acquisition costs for power wheelchairs omitted substantial costs

• HHS OIG Omits Data Essential for Accurate Evaluation of Medicare Program's Power Wheelchair Costs:

  Recently, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a study entitled "Power Wheelchairs in the Medicare Program: Supplier Acquisition Costs and Services." In its study, the OIG suggests that because Medicare pricing for power wheelchairs is nearly four times the supplier's acquisition cost, suppliers must be realizing excessive profits. Unfortunately, the study ignored the substantial costs related to providing power wheelchairs to Medicare beneficiaries.

• Letter to Fox News Correspondent Dr. Marc Siegel Regarding Comments on Scooters and Healthcare Reform: I wanted to reach out to you and thank you for bringing some balance to the health care debate as it relates to power mobility. More specifically, your accurate responses and characterizations of Senator McCaskill's comments have been right on the mark and have brought light…

Key Activities

• Educate the beneficiary community on current issues possibly affecting their mobility rights.
• Educate members of Congress on the value the Power Mobility provides to Senior Citizens nationwide.
• Establish strong industry ties through relationships with State Durable Medical Equipment Associations.
• Pursue and maintain memberships with AAHomecare, National Association for Home Care (NAHC), National Federation for Independent Businesses (NFIB), Power Mobility Coalition (PMC), and Restore Access to Mobility Partnership (RAMP).
• Assist in the serving and the protection of the Medicare Trust fund by building ties with Congressional Leaders in both the House and the Senate.