Medicare's unsustainable bidding program for home medical equipment will hurt patients and providers

Home medical equipment and services (HME) is a cost-effective alternative to expensive hospital and nursing home care. It's also a way to control healthcare spending growth.

Medicare's so-called “competitive” bidding program for HME is having disastrous effects on both providers and their patients. Congress must stop it now before Round 2 pricing goes into effect on July 1, 2013.

If the bidding program becomes the way Medicare sets reimbursement rates the result will be extreme hardship for some of our most vulnerable citizens.

What is wrong with Medicare's bidding program?

• It is anti-competition.
• It reduces access to care, patient choice, and quality of care for seniors and people with disabilities.
• It forces HME providers to lay off good employees, and in some cases, close their business.

An online petition on the WhiteHouse.gov “We the People” website asks the Obama administration to replace the destructive competitive bidding program with the Market Pricing Program. The petition needs to garner 100,000 signatures by April 17 to get a response from the President. To read and sign the petition, go to www.SavePatientAccess.com.

Pass MPP, a Market-Based program in Home Medical Equipment that will assure patient access, quality & best gov't savings
Medicare's designed bidding program has awarded contracts to out-of-area & out-of-state providers, many without any direct ability to serve patients. That's why in 100 areas, Part B rates will be cut by an average 45% on Respiratory & Mobility products. All diabetic testing supplies will be cut by 72%.

244 of the top competitive bidding experts, including 5 Nobel Laureates, called the program "fatally flawed". A failed program will limit area providers, product choice & increase government spending.

We ask to replace the current bid program with the Market Pricing Program. The MPP will require binding bids, collateral to participate & transparency. Patients and Doctors will have local, bonded & accredited providers to choose from and the government will get the best possible savings.  www.SavePatientAccess.com