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.
