CMS' release of its final rule on Medicare DMEPOS competitive bidding elicited a strong response from all sectors of the industry. A sampling of comments follows.
“The best thing that could happen is for competitive
bidding to be delayed a couple of years so that Congress could
actually examine the plan and understand the possible repercussions
of their actions on America's seniors and disabled
citizens.”
— Sandra London-Leib, CEO, Advanced Homecare, Lawrence,
Kan.
“It doesn't take a genius to realize that if you're a
Medicare beneficiary in a bid area, you are not going to get the
same level of care or the same quality as someone in a non-bid
area. You are forcing a Medicare beneficiary to get a lesser
standard of care that nobody who is not under Medicare has to put
up with.”
— Jim Walsh, general counsel, The VGM Group, Waterloo,
Iowa
“If you look at what's actually going to happen, if
there are 10 to 20 winners, then 30 percent of that is only three
to six small businesses … If there are only seven winners,
then 30 percent of seven is two small businesses. It's very
scary.”
— Rob Brant, general manager, City Medical Services, North
Miami Beach, Fla.
“There's so much subjectiveness to this. Honestly, we
could give the lowest bid and not be chosen. They are going to look
at our financials and consider if we are worthy of being in the
Medicare program. If CMS decides they don't want you in the
program, they can make that conclusion.”
— Gerald Sloan, Progressive Medical Equipment, Lenexa,
Kan.
“This is a program that has been in the works for three
years, and even today we still don't have all the information we
need yet they are still moving forward … We're at the
starting line and we have one foot on the banana
peel.”
— Don Clayback, senior vice president of networks, The MED
Group, Lubbock, Texas
“The time frame is very difficult for PMD suppliers who
have weathered three years of reform, changes in HCPCS codes,
changes in the fee schedule and now are tested again to change
their business model and determine what is a competitive bidding
price.”
— Eric Sokol, executive director, Power Mobility Coalition,
Washington
