Lakeland, Fla. With its Oct. 1 implementation date in sight, the Health Care Financing Administration released the names of the winning companies in its competitive bidding project for Polk County.

Sixteen companies were selected covering the five product categories. The most companies chosen for one category were 13 for oxygen supplies and equipment; the fewest were four for surgical dressings. One company, Comprehensive Health Care, Orlando, was chosen for all five categories. Global Medical, Lakeland, was added to the oxygen category during the reconsideration period after originally being accepted for enteral nutrition and hospital beds.

New payment rates, based on 73 bids submitted from 30 different providers, will go into effect Oct. 1. They represent reductions from current rates of between 13 and 31 percent. Winning providers will serve Medicare beneficiaries in Polk County at those lowered rates, which will remain in effect for two years.

According to competitive bidding rules, beneficiaries can maintain their existing relationships with oxygen providers or continue rental agreements for nutrition pumps and hospital beds, but only if the providers will accept the reduced reimbursement rates. -K.G.

See a related story on Lincare Holdings and competitive bidding on Page 86.

American HomePatient, Tampa, Fla. - enteral nutrition, hospital beds, oxygen

Comprehensive Health Care, Orlando, Fla. - enteral nutrition, hospital beds, oxygen, surgical dressings, urological

Doctor's Choice, Auburndale, Fla. - oxygen

Encore Respiratory, Lake Alfred, Fla. - oxygen

Global Medical, Lakeland, Fla. - enteral nutrition, hospital beds, oxygen

Health Care Diagnostics, Auburndale, Fla. - enteral nutrition, hospital beds, oxygen

Home Care Medical Services, Lakeland, Fla. - enteral nutrition, hospital beds, oxygen

Jernigan Healthcare, Gardendale, Ala. - surgical dressings, urological

Medex 7, Lakeland, Fla. - oxygen

Medi-Health, Lakeland, Fla. - enteral nutrition, hospital beds, oxygen, urological

Medical Technology Solutions, Tampa, Fla. - surgical dressings

Messick Homecare (dba Housecall Medical), Tampa, Fla. - hospital beds, oxygen

Medline Health Care, Orlando, Fla. - enteral nutrition, surgical dressings, urological

Rupitek Inc., Tampa, Fla. - hospital beds, oxygen

Sun Factors, Winter Haven, Fla. - hospital beds, oxygen, urological

VNA Homecare, Orlando, Fla. - hospital beds, oxygen