The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid
(ITEM) Coalition, a consumer-led group of more than 70 seventy
disability, aging, health and provider associations, has asked HHS
to take wheelchair seating cushions out of competitive bidding. In
a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the coalition pointed
out that such specialized cushions must be specifically fitted to
users. If the cushions are bid, the group said, some providers
could move to low-cost cushions, and that could have consequences
for beneficiaries.
While CMS has said privately it would consider such a request
prior to Round Two, under the Medicare Improvements for Patients
and Providers Act, the agency is prohibited from changing the codes
that are to be rebid in Round One. According to one insider,
however, some in the clinical and end-user communities are urging
CMS to review and revise the list of codes before moving forward
with the DMEPOS bidding program.
