Legislative And Regulatory Issues To Take Center Stage At MEDTRADE 2007

Atlanta,GA - Medtrade 2007, the home healthcare industry's largest conference and exposition, will take place October 2 – 4, 2007 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Produced by Nielsen Business Media, Medtrade 2007 will present over 170 educational events and will showcase over 280,000 square feet of exhibit space. It will also be the "go-to" event for home medical equipment providers who are seeking updates and advice on the ever-changing and ever-challenging legislative and regulatory environment.

"The Medtrade staff is well aware of the challenges facing the HME industry and that is why we are pleased to offer a program that emphasizes these issues," says Kevin Bird, group show director. "The keynote address, which is sponsored by Invacare Corp., is positioned to launch the show with the most up-to-date information on the current situation in Washington."

The keynote event will feature video addresses from U.S. Representatives John Tanner, D-Tenn., and David Hobson, R-Ohio, co-authors of H.R. 1845, the Tanner-Hobson Bill. Congressmen Tanner and Hobson will be introduced by Mal Mixon, CEO, and Cara Bachenheimer, senior vice president of government affairs, Invacare Corp. The keynote presentation will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 a.m. in room W110A/B of the Orange County Convention Center.

In addition to the keynote address, there are numerous educational conference sessions that will focus on legislative updates for the HME industry as well as sessions that specifically address rehab and respiratory issues, including:

• What in the World Is Going On? A Medicare Update by Andrea Stark, Medicare Consultant, MiraVISTA
• Complex Rehab and Assistive Technology Competitive Bidding Update by Cara Bachenheimer, Invacare Corp.
• The State of the Power Mobility Device Industry by Dan Meuser and Seth Johnson, Pride Mobility Products Corp.
• The Current Status of Legislative Activity by John Gallagher, The VGM Group
• Update on Respiratory Issues Impacting Manufacturers and Providers by Marcia Nusgart, Coalition of Respiratory Care Manufacturers, and Joseph Lewarski, Invacare Corp.
• Hosting a Site Visit with your Member of Congress moderated by Simon Margolis, NRRTS

According to John Gallagher, vice president of government relations for VGM, "Due to the dynamic legislative environment in which the HME industry is currently operating, it is essential that HME providers get informed and, most importantly, get involved. Medtrade 2007 offers many opportunities for this through the educational conference program that has been planned for this year and the interaction that will take place with industry leaders on the exhibit hall floor."

Attendees will also have the opportunity to receive information about compliance issues, industry trends and data, future forums for education and training, networking opportunities, and consumer information at the AAHomecare booth in the exhibit hall. Your Voice in Washington, formerly known as Grassroots Central, will be a place to talk strategy with knowledgeable experts who work daily with members of Congress.

AAHomecare will also present the first session in a new series titled "AAHomecare's Top 10 Tips" on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 9:45 a.m. Walt Gorski, AAHomecare's vice president of government relations, will present Top 10 Practical Tips for your Business and will offer advice on what to do after an audit and ways to collect money.

Medtrade 2007 is scheduled for October 2 – 4, 2007. For more information about the event, please visit www.medtrade.com or call (800) 933-8735. Nielsen Business Media's upcoming healthcare events include Medtrade Spring 2008, which will be held May 6 – 8, 2008, in Long Beach, Calif., and Medtrade 2008, which will take place October 28 – 30, 2007, in Atlanta.

SOURCE: Medtrade 2007