http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_6252.html?rev=28175 <p>H.R. 6252 would amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay and reform the Medicare competitive acquisition program for purchase of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies.</p> <h2 id="toc0"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to delay generally until after 2011 full implementation of the Medicare competitive acquisition program for the purchase of durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).</p> <p>Revises such program, dividing its implementation into two rounds, and specifying covered item updates for 2009-2014.</p> <p>Prescribes requirements for application of accreditation in implementing quality standards.</p> <p>Requires suppliers to disclose subcontractors.</p> <p>Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a competitive acquisition ombudsman within the Centers for Medicare &amp;amp; Medicaid Services to respond to complaints and inquiries by suppliers and individuals.</p> <p>Specifies topics for the Comptroller General's required study and report to Congress on the impact of competitive acquisition of DME on suppliers, manufacturers, and patients.</p> <p>Sets forth a special rule for the competitive acquisition program for diabetic testing strips.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc1"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 6/17/2008: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc2"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc3"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 28175@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#38936 If the scooter provider is accredited to deliver liquid oxygen, I would be happy to let them handle it. Should I instead trust an un-accredited provider just because they have been doing it for years? You can't let a name fool you.... 38936@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#38896 How would you like liquid oxygen, a concentrator or any type of resp. equipment delivered by a provider who won the bid that deals in scooters??? How is that fair to our patients???... 38896@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#38490 The suppliers who lost screwed up, period. They lacked the financials to get into the program. They didn't lose any documents, they simply used a standard phrase to reject what didn't quality. CMS also said most of those bids were too high anyway. Those same suppliers spent their time complaining to congress for another chance to get it right. Every winning provider is accredited. That's not true for most of the suppliers now. Every winner has far stricter quality standards because of it. You're all compmlaining because you lost your large margins, and can't run a business as effeciently as the winners. It's simply sour grapes. To add insult to injury the losing providers want to keep the patients from saving 26% on their co-insurance so they can get another change to bid? That's just horrible. You lost, get over it.... 38490@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#38372 BW - NOT ONE OF MY "LOCAL" SUPPLIERS WON A CONTRACT. IF THIS BILL DOES NOT PASS, I WILL NEED TO CHANGE TO A SUPPLIER 75 MILES AWAY. IS THAT FAIR? THEY CAN MAIL MY RESPIRATORY SUPPLIES TO ME BUT WILL NOT COME TO SERVICE MY EQUIPMENT UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY, THEN I NEED TO GO TO THE ER BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO MY HOME IN A TIMELY MANNER. THIS IS REALLY SAVING MEDICARE MONEY!!... 38372@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#38284 DL do you know what you are talking about.Evidently not people are winning bids who have never even sold or serviced the bids they won. Scooter Store won oxygen bids and have never even sold or serviced the equipment. That would be like going to the doctor and asking him to service your car. Find out more of what you are saying. Then you will understand this bill is going to devastate thousands of small businesses in this country.... 38284@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#38214 There are many local providers who WON the bidding process. Many have spent countless hours and hired people to prepare for July 1st. What should happen to those workers? I guess they shouldn't have jobs? No one ever thinks of the consequences that cancelling the contracts the companies who won the bid would do. They are going to reduce Medicare payments on way or another. To delay bidding now would create a bigger mess than before! THIS BILL MUST NOT PASS!... 38214@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#38101 Janice, The supplier you have now may or may not be able to service you after July 1. Your services may come from another city, or even another state. Will you be receiving quality care from someone who isn't able be there when you need them? What will happed when your oxygen concentrator alarms in the middle of the night? Some of the contracts were awarded to suppliers in categories that they have never done before. Are you going to trust equipment supplied to you by someone who has no idea what they are doing? Loss of quality patient care is a stake here, just as much as the loss of quality providers. These are just a few points to be made. I urge you (and your friends) to spend some time with your local provider and see just what it is they do to provide you, your family, neighbors and friends with QUALITY health care equipment. Maybe looking at both sides of the coin will help everyone understand why this bill must pass!... 38101@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#38026 THIS BILL SUCKS AND MOST NORMAL PEOPLE KNOWIT!!!!! SOME OF YOU PEOPLE IN HIGH PLACES ARE GOING TO REAP WHAT YOU SEW,BELIEVE ME,GOD IS IN C.O.N.T.R.O.L. THIS BILL SHALL NOT PASS,I'M 71 YEARS OLD AND I NEED THE MONEY NOW NOT 18 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD,I'LL SHOUT IT FROM THE HILLTOPS!! DO NOT PASS THIS BILL!!!!!!!!1... 38026@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#38054 "DL", "DL" You and Medicare overlook the costs of the unintended consequences of NCB. The treatment that I provide as a "DME Provider" saves Medicare so much money. I keep people out of hospitals, by preventing wounds, amputations, and other surgeries. I keep people out of nursing homes. I am certain that my outcomes pay Medicare $3 for every $1 of reimbursement that they pay my company. I only ask that they not take away my access to patients and vice versa. I am not asking for a raise. Just please do not deny access to the functional, positional, and medical outcomes and all of the cost savings that are tied to them for the Medicare beneficiaries that I have the honor to treat.... 38054@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37923 The bidders who won are not the bad guys. We are the ones who have spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars preparing. I am a local provider in a local area who has provided DME for the last 30 years. There are many of us out here. We just have not had time to lobby because we are preparing for 7-1-08. SUPPORT COMPETITIVE BIDDING. We all have past numerous accredatations, licenses, etc. We are not the bad guys.... 37923@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37837 Wow, everyone should be so angry at this bill it's unbelievable that someone could support it. Why can't we have reductions in costs for DME or Physician Services? My mom for the first time in her life needs me to help pay her bills - a 30% decrease in DME is a good thing and 10% for Physicians. I don't think her doctor or the large corporations like Invacare sponsoring this bill and paying off Stark, et-al. Are huring too much. If you don't believe me - check the manufacturer of that walker you have - it's China, that's where they all get there equipment to make more money and rip-off our seniors and taxpayers. Get rid of this bill - it's a boost to large corporations just like everything else in the last 7.5 years!... 37837@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37844 Seems like SH has never been in the home health market. No one realizes it costs over $50.00 just to rocess the order. Not knowing if Medicare will approve or not. SH why don't you accept $45.00 reimbursement for a walker and see how long you will be in business. When you have to deliver it, own a delivery van, pay a delivery person, rising fuel costs and also pay your vendor for the product. This bill will be catastrophic not only to businesses, employees, most of all the patients who need supplies and equipment. There is much more to this than you realize. This will ruin the little man's future and make big corporations even bigger.... 37844@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37860 The reason we are so angry with this bill is that it isn't the providers that get hurt. Its the small business people like myself who got disqualified for no reason and cannot provide medical equipment. At this time, as well, we cannot hardly afford to service someone on oxygen, or deliver a walker to someone because of reimbursement cuts and gas prices. So, look past the "forest" of the big corporations. They get paid no matter what. They are standing up for the small, rural business that will have to close their doors because of a flawed system. Not to mention, there is a stipulation that your mom can file a hardship if she has problems paying her bills.... 37860@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37871 RE: SH WE ARE AGAINST THE NATIONAL BIDDING! WE AS A PROVIDERS SUPPORT THE BILL, WE DO NOT APPROVE OF THE WAY THE BIDDING IS BEING HANDLED BY THE CMS& THEIR GESTAPO'S, THEY CHANGE THE RULES/PROVISIONS OF THE BIDDING AS THEY PLEASE NO NOTIFICATION AT ALL. HOW COME THEY CAN NOT APPROVE THE CUTS TO THE DOCTORS 10% OR SO WHICH IS IN THE PIPELINE BUT NEVER GETS PASSED BY THE CONGRESS. BUT THEY CAN REDUCE THE PAYMENT FOR DIABETIC TESTING SUPPLIES BY 46%.... 37871@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37903 YOU TEST YOUR BLOOD SUGAR WITH GENERIC, IMPORTED UNRELIABLE TEST STRIPS AND SEE HOW FAST YOU'LL END UP IN THE HOSPITAL. OH, BY THE WAY, MEDICARE HAS TO PAY FOR YOUR HOSPITAL STAY, ALSO. JUST REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MEDICARE'S ALLOWABLE AND GET RID OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING. EVERYONE GETS HURT!... 37903@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37761 What will happen to the beneficiaries rights to choose? The elderly have enough to worry about this would be another step in the WRONG direction should the REFORM ACT OF 2008 NOT PASS.... 37761@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37762 If Medicare wants to save money, why can't they just lower the allowed amouts for each item. Seems to me this would be less confusing and much less burden for the beneficiaries.... 37762@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37764 RE: DLB That would have been too easy and just think of the money that would have been saved if they didnt have to create the CBIC (from the ex Palmetto GBA) who lost their bid contract to Cigna. A couple percentage points reduction across the board would have saved Millions$$$$$, instead we have spent millions trying to comply with CBIC requirements. And oh by the way, still disqualified because I was missing (allegedly) financial documentation. They couldnt tell me which ones though. How convienent. (for them)... 37764@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37768 Please vote yes to H.R. 6252 and stop the 36-month oxygen cap. M.G.R. HOMECARE, INC. of Griffin, GA has provided home medical equipment for its patients since 1979. With the 36-month cap, 50 percent of our patients are slated to cap-out and be left with no one monitoring and measuring the equipment oxygen purity, periodic maintenance, patient compliance for prescribed liter flow and the general well being of the patient. One of the patients who will cap-out has been on our service 16 years. Community based small business is the life-blood of our country. Competitive bidding is just a totally anti-American business model. Patients must have a choice to keep quality of healthcare in tact. Thank you for your yes vote to H.R. 6252 and your influence for stopping the 36 month oxygen cap today.... 37768@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37822 Consider this: If the "Administrative Costs" of healthcare (as categorized by CMS) only rose by 47% from 2000 to 2005, rather than the actual 76% by which it did increase, then 24 billion dollars would have been saved. That 24 billion is equal to 100% of the total Durable Medical Products (DME) spend in 2005. If the Administrative Costs category performed at least as efficiently as the DME category, which only rose by 24% in the same time frame, then the savings would have been 42 billion. That is almost double the entire DME spend in 2005. If the same exercise were performed on any of the top three spending categories, the results would be stagaring. Note: "Administrative Costs" is only the 4th highest ranking category!!!... 37822@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_6252.html?rev=26017 <p>H.R. 6252 would amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay and reform the Medicare competitive acquisition program for purchase of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies.</p> <h2 id="toc4"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to delay generally until after 2011 full implementation of the Medicare competitive acquisition program for the purchase of durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).</p> <p>Revises such program, dividing its implementation into two rounds, and specifying covered item updates for 2009-2014.</p> <p>Prescribes requirements for application of accreditation in implementing quality standards.</p> <p>Requires suppliers to disclose subcontractors.</p> <p>Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a competitive acquisition ombudsman within the Centers for Medicare &amp;amp; Medicaid Services to respond to complaints and inquiries by suppliers and individuals.</p> <p>Specifies topics for the Comptroller General's required study and report to Congress on the impact of competitive acquisition of DME on suppliers, manufacturers, and patients.</p> <p>Sets forth a special rule for the competitive acquisition program for diabetic testing strips.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc5"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 6/12/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc6"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc7"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 26017@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37664 it's good and bad. great that they will delay the program, but a crummy concession - not so much the 9% cut, but the re-bid in 18 mo. i wish they could have done away with the program. is the next bid really going to be any different? maybe cms will ditch the cbic, that would be nice. they're web site sucked. the waka is f'n funny.... 37664@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37678 I have been in the homecare market either rt, salesman etc; for almost 40 years. If the competitive bidding process is allowed this country will keep going downhill. People who have won the bids aren't even in the bidding area and many of them have never even sold or serviced the equipment they will be supplying. How on earth could these people possibly take care of these individuals. The future of healthcare as we know relies on competitive bidding either stopped or revamped to put everyone on an even playing field. This is the biggest faux paux in this country's history as far as healthcare is concerned. God help us if free healthcare is passed also. We will be living with socialized medicine like it or not. Be sure you think about this when you vote again. Your family's welfare will rely on it.... 37678@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6252.html#37683 Hopefully within the 18 month delay all the investigations into bid handling misconduct and fabrication of median pricing is disclosed and Kerry Weems and crew will go to jail for alot longer time and the whole bidding concept will go away. I can deal with the 9.5% reduction, it sure beats the alternative.... 37683@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT