consumer advocacy day

Come to Medtrade 2011 at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, October 27th for Medtrade’s Annual Consumer Advocacy Day. There is no fee for attending.

Launched in 2009, Medtrade Consumer Advocacy Day is designed to assist patients and their caregivers in developing a better understanding of the issues facing the home medical and durable medical equipment industry. We invite you to join us for a complimentary day filled with educational opportunities to expand your knowledge in the areas of Mobility, Diabetes and Respiratory/Sleep.

We also provide the opportunity for you to have a better understanding of the legislative and regulatory issues facing the industry and how those regulations will affect your ability to have access to the products and services you need. Our advocacy program will help arm you with the information you need to be a loud voice on behalf of yourself or your loved one.

Medtrade offers you a chance to see the latest innovative products offered, in some cases before they are even available to the public. Your visit to the show will include full access to the expositions which features the products and services of over 550 HME/DME companies. We will also provide you with a private tour of the Medtrade Accessible Home. Built on the show floor, the Medtrade Accessible Home is a full scale working model home featuring the latest in features and products to make your life easier and better.

_{select "New Registration" on first page, "Patient Care Provider" on third & "Expo Floor" on fourth}

Or call 508-743-0519

2011 Schedule

9:00-10:00am
Medtrade Accessible Home VIP Tour
Expo Floor

10:30 - 11:00am*
General Session: Medicare: What you don’t know will make you sick.
Speakers: Kelly Turner – Director of People for Quality Care; Beth Cox – Communications Specialist for People for Quality Care
Timely service, quality equipment and access to new technology are important to those who rely on home medical equipment. However, Medicare’s new competitive bidding program, which eliminates home care providers nationwide, threatens this access and independence for millions of Americans. Learn how the program has impacted medical equipment users, professionals and caregivers in nine pilot regions, when the program is scheduled to begin where you live and what action you can take to stop it before it reaches your community.

11:30am - 12:00pm*
Mobility Session: How to Get the Mobility You Need in This Age of Funding Constraints
Speakers: Mark E. Smith – Pride Mobility Products; Anne Eubank – Exec Dir. Users First Alliance
Gone are the days when consumers could count on a straight-forward path to getting the mobility that they need. However, with savvy consumerism, charting a course to the appropriate mobility for your lifestyle is possible. This presentation will move you through the real-world options -- including alternative funding sources -- toward getting the mobility that you need and deserve.

12:30pm - 1:00pm*
Diabetic Session: Access to Quality Diabetic Supplies in a Competitive Bidding Environment
Speaker: Infopia USA
Session Focus:
- Access to diabetic supplies during competitive bidding
- How you can join in the movement to demand fair competitive bidding regulations
- What to do if you are switched to a new supplier
- Choosing the best meter and supplies for you
- Introduction to the technology of the future
- Tips to save on supplies

1:15 - 1:45pm*
Respiratory Sessions:

How to Choose the Right Portable Oxygen Concentrator
Speaker: Holly Lockwood - Publisher, Everything Respiratory

What is new in Sleep Apnea Therapy?
Speaker: Edward Grandi – Exec. Dir. American Sleep Apnea Association
New masks, new machines, new peripherals -- the association’s executive director help you navigate the trade show floor with what are the latest improvements to sleep apnea therapy.

*Sessions will be held in the Consumer Lounge and Education Theater - Adjacent to booth 163 in Expo Hall

_{select "New Registration" on first page, "Patient Care Provider" on third & "Expo Floor" on fourth}

Or call 508-743-0519

fodac Medtrade would like to recognize FODAC (Friends of Disabled Adults & Children) as a supporting organization. Over the past 25 years, FODAC has provided over 25,000 wheelchairs and hundreds of other durable and disposable medical items to people of all ages with injuries and disabilities. Vist www.fodac.org or call 770-491-9014 for additional information.

FODAC would like to invite you to join them on Wednesday, October 19th at Stone Mountain Golf Club as they raise money to keep people with disabilities moving! Read more

Sponsors

Medtrade and AAHomecare thank the members of the Consumer Education Steering Group for their time and talent:

Mark Smith
Pride Mobility/Wheelchair Junkie.com
Consumer Research Manger./Editor
800.800.8586 ext.3322
msmith@pridemobility.com

Barbara Rogers
NECA
President and CEO
202.666.2210
brogers@necaweb.org

Ed Grandi
American Sleep Apnea Association
Executive Director
202.293.3650
egrandi@sleepapnea.org

Paul Schulte
Invacare
Design Engineer

Angela King
Resmed
Angela.King@resmed.com

Ann Eubank, LMSW, OTR/L, ATP
Users First
Executive Director
888.468.5755
anneubank@usersfirst.org