Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representatives Glenn `GT’ Thompson,
PA-05, Jason Altmire, PA-04, and John Murtha, PA-12, cosponsored a bipartisan
measure, H.R. 3790, which would eliminate the Medicare competitive bidding
program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies
(DMEPOS).
The bill, introduced by Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-FL, on October
13th, has strong bipartisan support from 30 Members of Congress.
Durable medical equipment includes such things as oxygen
tanks and machines, wheelchairs, hospital beds and diabetic supplies. The
Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 mandated that Medicare begin implementation
of an equipment competitive bidding program. This program was delayed by
Congress on July 15, 2008, 15 days after it started, due to the serious
fundamental, procedural and operational flaws.
In 2008, Medicare data shows that there were 9,198 durable
medical equipment providers that specialized in the products included in the
program. When the winning bids were announced, that number decreased to
376 – a reduction of more than 95% of potential providers. This promised a
negative effect on those who receive the products and services. Fewer
providers at far distances from the clients could mean that a problem with a
piece of equipment could not be addressed quickly.
“In this time of economic uncertainty, the last thing
government should be doing is creating regulations that will adversely affect
small businesses and remove real competition from the marketplace. If the
number of smaller home providers of durable medical equipment declines as a
result of so called “competitive” bidding, I am concerned that more homecare
patients will need to be hospitalized – that drives up cost in the long run,”
said Thompson.
“CMS’ competitive bidding program
is a fundamentally flawed proposal that could make it harder for western Pennsylvania seniors to
purchase the highly specialized medical equipment that they need,” Congressman
Jason Altmire (PA-04) said. “The common sense legislation we are proposing will
eliminate this flawed program and protect seniors and small businesses without
adding one penny to the federal deficit.”
“Our seniors have always been able
to rely on local suppliers to provide them with their medical equipment needs,”
said Congressman John P. Murtha (PA-12). “The Medicare competitive
bidding program would be detrimental to our rural areas because it would force
our seniors to travel long distances to receive the medical equipment they
need.”
While the measure reduces Medicare reimbursements to home
medical equipment providers over the next five years, it allows home medical
providers to stay in business and continue to serve the millions of Americans
who require home-based care.
Wednesday, the current bid program for medical equipment was
opened in nine metropolitan statistical areas across the U.S. including Pittsburgh. The winners would be
selected in 2010 and the new prices would become effective January 1,
2011. If H.R. 3790 is successful, that process will be stopped.
