I ran across this article in the latest issue of "Quest," the MDA magazine regarding the proposed changes to Medicare affecting bipaps and respiratory equipment. It was encouraging to see that the MDA Task Force is pushing to correct this proposed action that can affect all those, like my PALS, who depend on continuing affordable respiratory care. I expect that ALSA is also on top of this as well.
"MDA TASK FORCE SENDS LETTERS ABOUT MEDICARE DME RESTRICTIONS
Letters of support from the Steering Committee of the MDA National Task Force on Public Awareness have been sent to Congress supporting efforts to revise restrictive Medicare funding policies for durable medical equipment.
Beginning in April 2008, new Medicare policy will restrict those who rely on mobility equipment and some types of assistive technology to a list of equipment vendors, selected by a competitive bidding process. Medicare users will be authorized to use only two or three vendors.
This policy "will have a dramatic adverse impact on the ability of durable medical equipment consumers to purchase and maintain equipment that is customized for their medical needs," say Task Force steering committee members. "This directly compromises the quality of their lives, especially those living in rural regions of the country."
In an effort to revise this new Medicare policy before it goes into effect, two bills have been introduced in Congress: El The Medicare Access to Complex Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Act of 2007 (HR 2231), introduced by Rep. Thomas Allen (D-Maine), would exempt all "complex rehabilitation products and assistive technologies" from the competitive bidding program. This includes medically necessary adaptive seating, positioning and mobility devices, and speech generating devices.
The Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Access Act of 2007 (HR 1845), introduced by Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.); and S 1428, introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), would delay competitive bidding until quality standards are implemented and a special oversight committee is formed. The bill also authorizes exemptions for rural areas and smaller regions.
The Task Force letters of support for these revisions, sent to the bills'
sponsors, read in part:
"On behalf of ... the tens of thousands of U.S. citizens served by MDA who rely on complex and customized medical equipment for mobility and independence, we are writing to register our support of [the proposed legislation]. "[Medicare's] limitation on choice of vendors will drastically compromise customer service and customization of equipment to individual needs. The existing policy promotes a 'one-size-fits-all' concept of care. "We wish to underscore the importance of [the proposed legislation] and thank you for your support of this critical legislation and advocacy on behalf of individuals with neuromuscular diseases who are served by MDA."
The letters were signed by steering committee members Bill Altaffer of Tucson;
Jan Blaustone of Nashville, Tenn.; Mike Neufeldt of New Berlin, Wis.; and Chris Rosa of
Flushing, N.Y.
10 Quest 2007, No. 5"
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