With national competitive bidding (NCB) now back in the spotlight, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) Program Advisory & Oversight Committee (PAOC) has started meeting.
The first gathering, scheduled for June 4 in Baltimore, was to discuss the revamped NCB program, with CMS saying, “Feedback received from the PAOC committee members and the public will assist the agency as it moves forward with the Round 1 Rebid.”
The agenda will also “focus on legislative changes mandated by the Medicare Improvements for Patients & Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008, as well as additional process improvements.”
Following the 2008 halt to competitive bidding, the term of the original PAOC ended, and new PAOC members were appointed:
Peter Amico, president, Prime Care Medical Supplies, Inc.
Kendra Betz, prosthetics clinical coordinator, Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Richard Boulger, director, Business Solutions Center, University of Iowa
Dr. Doran Edwards, COO, Advanced Healthcare Consulting, LLC
Dr. Sue ElHessen, consultant/professor/trainer, American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Careers Unlimited, Inc.
Joseph F. Furlong III, president/CEO, American HomePatient
Walter Gorski, VP government affairs, American Association for Homecare
Rita Hostak, VP, government relations, Sunrise Medical, Inc.
Thomas J. Jeffers, VP, government affairs, Hill-Rom, Inc.
Ruben J. King-Shaw Jr. , chairman/CEO, All-Med Services of Florida, Inc., and Clinical Medical Services, Inc., Puerto Rico
Ann Kohler, executive director, National Association of State Medicaid Directors
Jeffrey Mansell, compliance officer, Drugs and Medical Devices Group, Texas Department of State Health Services
Dr. Sharad Mansukani, chief strategic officer, NationsHealth, Inc.
Thomas Milam, general manager/COO, AmMed Direct, LLC
Barbara Rogers, president/CEO, National Emphysema/Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Association
Esta E. Willman, owner/CEO, Medi-Source Equipment & Supply
Dr. Debra Zak, executive director, Home Care Accreditation Programs, The Joint Commission