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Medicare is the federal health care system that covers about 36 million people age 65 and older, plus 7 million disabled. It has four parts:
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Home > Medicare Monitor > Archives > 2008 > June > 04 > Entry
Lawmakers urge delay in bid program
Two letters signed by 132 members of Congress this week urge a one-year delay in Medicare’s implementation of a competitive bidding program for home medical equipment such as oxygen, wheelchairs and hospital-style beds.
The competitive bid program is slated to begin July 1 in 10 metropolitain areas: Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Kansas City, Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Riverside, and San Juan. Next year, another 70 cities are scheduled to be added.
The letters, authored by Reps. John Tanner, D-Tenn., David Hobson, R-Ohio, and Jason Altmire, D-Pa., question the conduct of the recent bidding round in which numerous bids were thrown out because the Medicare contractor said some pages were missing.
“At the very least, an internal review should be conducted to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the criteria for future bidding. We all agree that it is of the utmost importance that we protect access to quality medical supplies for all of Medicare beneficiaries and people with disabilities. Therefore, we urge that the implementation of Round 1 be delayed for at least a year,” the letters said.
Tyler J. Wilson, president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare, hailed the development.
“This bidding program has been ill-conceived, poorly planned, and a wholly mishandled effort on the part of CMS,” Wilson said, referring to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “It will put thousands of good home care providers out of business and patients’ access to quality home medical equipment and services will suffer as a result. We are pleased that so many members of the House recognize the magnitude of these problems and have gone on record to urge delay and review of the program.”
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