Beginning January 1, 2011, Medicare started a new competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment and supplies in nine metro regions: Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas-Fort Worth, Kansas City, Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh, and Riverside, California. This new Medicare program will restrict the number of companies that are allowed to provide medical equipment and supplies including power wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen, CPAP and respiratory assistive devices, hospital beds, enteral nutrients (tube feeding), support surfaces, and mail-order diabetic supplies.
While this program is designed to help reduce spending in Medicare, it may result in difficulty in finding an equipment provider, delays in delivery of equipment or services, fewer choices of equipment or providers, reduced quality, confusion, or incorrect items and or services.
Medicare beneficiaries, family members, caregivers, hospital discharge planners, and clinicians can report problems, concerns, and feedback about this bidding system by calling a toll-free number, 1-888-990-0499, or by visiting the website: www.biddingfeedback.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment