Kazynski and Filippis Named to Competitive Bidding CommitteeThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced
September 24 the names of 21 nominees who were selected as members
of the Competitive Bidding Program Advisory Oversight Committee
(PAOC).
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization
Act of 2003 (MMA) required the Secretary of Health & Human
Services (HHS) to replace the current Durable Medical Equipment
(DME) payment methodology (fee schedule method) for certain items
with a competitive acquisition process, with the intent to improve
the effectiveness of Medicare's methodology for setting DME payment
amounts.
This new bidding process will establish payment for certain
durable medical equipment, enteral nutrition, and off-the-shelf
orthoses. The PAOC will provide advice on the development and
implementation of the Competitive Acquisition Program.
Seven O&P organizations initially nominated representatives
to the panel; however, the professional organizations recognized
the broad scope of expertise needed on this panel, and that the
profuse nominations, (170-plus) could result in inadequate or
nonexistent representation for the O&P profession. Eventually a
coalition of O&P groups, including the National Association for
the Advancement of Orthotics & Prosthetics (NAAOP), the
American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists, the National
Commission on Orthotic & Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), the
American Board for Certification in Orthotics & Prosthetics
(ABC), the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC),
POINT Health Centers of America, and Hanger Prosthetics &
Orthotics, consolidated nominations to endorse two consensus
candidates: Terry Supan, CPO, FAAOP, and Al Kritter, CPO, FAAOP,
neither of whom were selected by CMS as PAOC members. AOPA
maintained its separate nomination of two candidates: A.J.
Filippis, CPO, and Charles Dankmeyer, CPO. VGM, parent company of
OPGA, also nominated Dave Kazynski, president of
Homelink/contracting division.
Kazynski and Filippis, who is president of Wright & Filippis
and a practicing prosthetist/orthotist, were both selected as PAOC
members.
The advisory committee membership was expanded from 15 to 21
members to represent a broad range of stakeholders in the outcome
of the competitive bidding process: beneficiary/consumer,
physician/provider, manufacturer, supplier,
certification/standards, and federal and state programs. This
committee's purpose is to ensure that CMS maintains an open
communication process during the implementation of this new
program. Specifically, the committee will be advising CMS on
implementation of competitive bidding, beneficiary access issues,
appropriate educational strategies, and financial and quality
standards for suppliers under the program.
The committee held its first meeting on October 6 at CMS
headquarters in Baltimore. Committee meetings are open to the
public but oral comments by non-committee members are not
permitted. The committee will meet periodically until the end of
2009.
Competitive Bidding Program Advisory and Oversight Committee
Membership Roster
1. Cara Bachenheimer - vice president of Government Relations,
Invacare Corporation.
2. Robert Baum - program manager for the Prosthetic and Sensory
Aids Service, Strategic Healthcare Group, Veterans Health
Administration (VA) Central office, Washington, DC.
3. Mary Benhardus - founder and controlling owner, Handi Medical
Supply Inc.
4. Henry Claypool - expert adviser to Social Security
Administration's deputy commissioner to advise on Interim Medical
Benefits
5. Asela Cuervo - senior vice president, American Association
for Homecare.
6. David Gray - associate professor of neurology and associate
professor of occupational therapy, Washington University School of
Medicine.
7. Don Hawley, DDS - program director, Utah Department of
Health, Division of Utah Health Care Financing.
8. Lawrence Higby - president and CFO, Apria Healthcare.
9. Rita Hostak - vice president, Home Healthcare Group of
Sunrise Medical Inc.
10. Dave Kazynski - president, Van G. Miller & Associates's
HOMELINK division.
11. Anthony Filippis, CPO - president and CEO, Wright &
Filippis, practicing certified prosthetist/orthotist.
12. Alan McMullen - cost reimbursement analyst, Medical
Assistance Administration, Department of Social & Health
Services, State of Washington.
13. Jean Minkel - founder and president, Minkel Consulting.
Specializes in assistive technology.
14. William Popomaronis - vice president, Long-Term/Home Health
Care Pharmacy Services, The National Community Pharmacists
Association (NCPA).
15. Maryanne Popovich - executive director, Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
16. John Prassas - director, Corporate Provider Development
& Contracting, PacifiCare Health Plans.
17. Chris Reisdorf - manager, Benefit Policy Unit Minnesota
Health Care Programs Medical Assistance, General Assistance Medical
Care, and Minnesota Care programs.
18. David Van Sleet - VISN 1 prosthetics manager, Department of
Veterans Affairs, New England Healthcare System.
19. Ken Viste, MD - medical director, Physical Rehabilitation
Unit, Mercy Medical Center, and staff physician, St. Agnes
Hospital.
20. Don Vliegenthart, MD - medical director, Hoveround
Corporation.
21. Daniel Waldmann - director of federal affairs, Johnson &
Johnson Inc. 
Table Of Contents - November 2004
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