Monday, June 2, 2014
(May 29, 2014)—On May 28, 2014, New Jersey public television affiliate NJTV featured a story on how the bidding process is hurting local suppliers and patients. Click here to watch the story.
"...for a lot of the government, there is almost a blind eye and deaf ear to a lot of the real issues, the realities of what's going on out there," said NJTV Correspondent Micheal Hill.
The news story featured throat cancer victim Bob Walsh, who feeds through a tube in his stomach and was unable to get the food supplies he needed because of the bidding process.
“I went for a week with no feeding supplies,” said Walsh.
The NJTV story reported that when the new bid contracts began July 2013, Walsh got caught in the crack between his old supplier and finding a new one. Walsh said that he lived off water and Gatorade for a week until his old supplier, Twin City in South Plainfield, N.J., donated a box of cans. “It took over a month before they started bringing more than that, maybe two months. I had to go buy it and pay cash for it,” Walsh said. Eighty dollars, Walsh noted, with no reimbursement.
The story also featured local New Jersey supplier Jerry's Drug and Surgical Supply in Bayonne.
“To win one small group and to lose the rest of the business has been devastating for us,” said owner Michael Bologh. “Business has been down. Revenues have been down. Cash flow drastically reduced and we won the bid.”
Michael Bologh and Herb Paserman from Jerry's Drug & Surgical Supply were the leads on this story. When the story broke, Herb Paserman spoke to AAHomecare about the impact of the bidding program and why stories like these are so important. “People need to be served and they are not being served under this program. That’s what the video showed," said Paserman. “People are being forced to pay for products and services that Medicare should be providing and some can’t get what they need at all. We need to adopt quick fixes that will make this program work properly so that everyone has access.”
Carol Napierski from the New York Medical Equipment Providers Association and Jersey Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers added that, "It was evident in the NJTV report that Bob Walsh was unable to obtain his life sustaining nutrition." Walsh was forced to pay out of pocket for products that are included as a Medicare benefit.
"It is clear both patients and providers are suffering as a result of the program design," continued Napierski. "Patients are waiting for their medically needed equipment and in many cases having to spend time locating a provider. At the same time, community based HME companies are laying off employees or closing their doors. The ripple effect of this program has been significant and needs to be changed before we see more of these unintentional consequences," concluded Napierski.
Jay Witter, senior vice president of public policy at AAHomecare added that, “The concern about this failed bid program continues to grow on Capitol Hill. Recently, 39 Senators sent CMS a letter of concern. Flaws in the program need to be addressed immediately to protect homecare patients and providers.” Visit aahomecare.org for more information.