Home Medical Equipment Industry And Major Non-profit Advocacy Groups To Unite At Medtrade

July 23, 2012 - PRLog -- Anaheim, CA—“We are taking the third year of our successful ‘Power for Funding’ campaign to the next level,” said Wayne Merdinger, VP of Business Development and International Sales for MK Battery, when announcing the company’s major new home medical equipment (HME) industry initiative, in cooperation with Medtrade.  “Our mission this year is to take our fundraising efforts to record heights while uniting the HME equipment community with relevant consumer advocacy organizations.  We are hopeful that these combined efforts will create powerful synergies to help move the bar on critical legislative issues that impact the industry--from product manufacturers to providers, and ultimately to the individual consumers whose access to affordable home healthcare products and services is being threatened.”
    MK Battery is the leading supplier of batteries to mobility equipment manufacturers and providers.  Over the past two years, MK Battery’s “Power for Funding” initiatives have raised nearly $150,000 for industry and trade organizations, such as The National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART), The National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (NRRTS) and The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) to help advance their advocacy and lobbying efforts in support of the HME community, both businesses and end-users alike.  

    Medtrade 2012, which will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, October 16-18, is the largest tradeshow in the world focused exclusively on the HME market.  The show attracts over 12,000 industry professionals and over 600 manufacturers showcasing their products.  “As legislative challenges continue to plague the HME industry, the need to unite all stakeholders, including consumer groups, has never been more critical,” said Kevin Gaffney, Group Show Director for Medtrade.  “We are happy to provide the Pavilion exhibit area, where the industry’s leading advocacy organizations and some of the most prominent HME relevant consumer non-profits will be able to share ideas while networking with industry providers and manufacturers.  MK Battery’s Power for Funding initiative is unique and bold, perhaps just the catalyst needed to pull everybody together to effect positive change.  Medtrade is pleased to be part of it and fully committed to its success.”

    Dennis Sharpe, MK Battery’s HME Category Manager, reports that several national consumer organizations have already committed to participating in the Power for Funding 2012 program and they represent hundreds of thousands of constituents in a variety of Home Healthcare sectors.  “Others are nearly on board and a full list of participants will be
announced soon,” Sharpe said.  “To kick-start the fundraising activity, MK Battery is contributing $50,000, most of which will be donated equally to the participating consumer groups.”  Gaffney noted that Medtrade will also be proactive in fundraising during registration, encouraging all exhibitors and providers to add to the donation pool.

About Medtrade 2012
Medtrade is the largest tradeshow in the world focused exclusively on the home medical equipment market and is designed to provide high quality and effective, sales, marketing, educational, advocacy and networking opportunities. The 2012 show will be held at Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA, October 16-18.  For information: www.medtrade.com/

About MK Battery
MK Battery, founded 1983, markets sealed batteries for power mobility equipment and a variety of other applications through O.E.M.'s, distributors and dealers.  Headquartered in Anaheim, California, MK Battery operates 27 distribution centers in the USA, Europe, and Australia.  MK Battery brands are sold and distributed on all seven continents.  For information: 800.372.9253, info@mkbattery.com or visit www.mkbattery.com