Contacting the SBA's Office Of Advocacy
In the May issue of Hospital Home Health, our cover story told you how to use the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) National Ombudsman's Office to report unfair federal regulatory enforcement to Congress.
But that's not all the SBA can do for home health agencies, which are, after all, small businesses. The Office of Advocacy can help, too. The Office of Advocacy recently petitioned the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), warning the Medicare administrator of the unfairness of its surety bond regulations. (See FAX bulletin inserted in this issue.)
The Ombudsman's Office is concerned with the enforcement aspects of federal regulations. By contrast, the Office of Advocacy monitors federal agencies' efforts to minimize the impact of their regulations on small businesses. The Office of Advocacy regularly submits written comments on proposed regulations to federal agencies.
If you are concerned about regulations under development by a federal agency, for example, HCFA's Interim Payment System or its expansion of the surety bond requirement beyond Congressional intent, you can write to the Office of Advocacy. Submitting written comments will help educate the SBA to the concerns of home health agencies and hospices and help enlist Advocacy's support in getting HCFA to consider rationally the impact of its regulations on small businesses.
Address your correspondence to:
Chief Counsel of Advocacy
U. S. Small Business Administration
409 Third Street, SW, Suite 7800
Washington, DC 20416
Take a few minutes and send your concerns. It can make a difference.
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