I am writing to the residents of Adams County to make them aware of a very important Medicare bill that has been introduced to Congress recently. This bill, if passed, will greatly benefit Medicare patients requiring IV therapy in the home.

Not may people are aware of the fact that they can receive antibiotic therapy, pain management therapy, total parenteral nutrition, enteral therapy or chemotherapy in the comfort of their own home thereby avoiding a lengthy hospital stay.

Currently, Medicare Part B covers the drugs and supplies for home IV pain management, TPNs, enteral and chemotherapy but does not cover antibiotic therapy.

Antibiotic therapy falls under Part D which may or may not cover the drug prescribed but does NOT cover any of the supplies.

House Resolution 2567, The Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2007, was introduced to the House of Representatives on June 5 by Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY), Kay Granger (R-TX), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chip Pickering (R-MS), Randy Kuhl (R-NY) and John Tierney (D-MA). This bill, if it is passed, will require Medicare to cover the cost of home IV supplies, equipment and professional services under Part B.

I work for Vital Care of Miss-Lou in Sicily Island. We are a provider of home IV medications and supplies.

On a daily basis we have to turn Medicare patients away for home IV therapy because their supplies and equipment are not covered by Medicare and they cannot afford to pay them out of their own pockets.

These patients must stay in the hospital or are admitted to a nursing home when they could be at home receiving their medications intravenously with a greatly reduced chance of infection.

That is why it is so important that H.R. 2567, The Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2007 is passed.

We are asking the residents of Adams County to please contact Sen. Thad Cochran or Sen. Trent Lott and urge them to vote in favor of this very important bill. Contact information for Sens. Cochran and Lott may be found at the end of this letter. Please take a few minutes to contact them and ask them to support this bill. Who knows, one day you or a family member may benefit from home IV therapy.

Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS) is one of the five representatives that helped introduce this bill. Please take a moment to contact him to express your gratitude and appreciation for his help in getting this bill introduced and passed.

Kristi M. Evans

Vital Care of Miss-Lou, Inc.

Sicily Island

Sen. Thad Cochran; cochran.senate.gov

Washington Office and Main District Office

113 Dirksen Senate Office Building

188 E. Capitol St., No. 614, Washington, D.C.

20510-2402, Jackson, MS 39201

Ph.: 202-224-5054; 601-965-4459

Fax: 202-224-9450; 601-965-4919

Sen. Trent Lott; lott.senate.gov

Washington Office and Main District Office

487 Russell Senate Office Building

245 E. Capitol St., No. 226

Washington, D.C. 20510-2403

Jackson, MS 39201

Ph.: 202-224-6253; 601-965-4644

Fax: 202-224-2262; 601-965-4007

Representative Charles Pickering

Web Site: www.house.gov/pickering

Washington Office Main District Office

229 Cannon House Office Building 110-D Airport Rd.

Washington, DC 20515-2403 Pearl, MS 39208

Ph.: 202-225-5031 Ph.: 601-932-2410

Fax: 202-225-5797 Fax: 601-965-4598