The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will postpone the second round of its Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies competitive bidding program until the summer of 2013.
“CMS’ decision to delay round two of the competitive bidding program shows that even it acknowledges that this program is seriously flawed,” U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) said in a statement. “The truth is that no matter how CMS tries to tweak its competitive bidding program, it will continue to be a fundamentally bad deal for our nation’s seniors and small businesses.”
Altmire and fellow U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) filed a bill last month seeking the repeal of the program. Since thenl, the two men reported, more than 60 members of Congress have signed on in support. Other early supporters of the bill include the National Association for Homecare and Hospice, the National Council on Independent Living and the American Association of Homecare.
[See related story: Proposed bill would eliminate bidding program]
The competitive bidding program was created under the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 with the intention of getting high-quality home medical equipment and services to those who need them while reducing costs.
The program has been under fire since before it launched. CMS was advised by economic experts, politicians, advocacy groups and others that the program was seriously flawed and would not work.
[See related story: Competitive bidding program disappoints]
To track problems with the program, the American Association of Homecare started a website, biddingfeedback.com. Problems were reported almost as soon as the first round of the program began in January and included difficulty finding equipment or a service provider, delays in obtaining medically-required equipment and services, confusion and reduced quality.
The first round was limited to nine metropolitan areas: Charlotte, N.C., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Kansas City, Kan., Miami, Orlando, Fla., Pittsburgh and Riverside, Calif. The second round, originally planned to launch later this year, calls for expanding the program to 91 more locations.