* You are viewing the archive for December, 2009
“Yes I’m calling to register my angst regarding this Competitive bidding for Durable Medical Conditions. … Currently we have a wheelchair that Medicare is providing through a medical equipment provider in New York for my father as well a bed and other medical equipment for the pad of the bed to keep the circulation going. They have provided good service, reliable good service and to be able to, you know to continue with … Continue Reading
“Yes, we have had a terrific experience with our health care provider, which is in Tampa, Texas. And anytime that we have called him they have responded immediately and I would hate to see this go. I can call and ask them, it’s my husband’s breathing equipment, and they are there immediately. And I would hate for this heath care program to go to where we could not get good health care service. Thank you. Bye.”… Continue Reading
“I am very concerned about this change of going to a competitive bidding where I will not have a free choice of providers for my oxygen equipment. And one of the things they really wonder about is why is it that for Medicare Part D it’s against the law to have competitive bidding, but all of a sudden we have competitive bidding starting in a place where we hadn’t had it before. That’s about it, but I … Continue Reading
“I am 73 years old. I’m on oxygen and a provider told me that there’s gonna be these caps on the Medicare. Well, I guess we’re just gonna have to die. The old people are gonna have to die because if we most of us are on social security and I have very little savings. There’s no way that I can pay for all my medications and the oxygen.”… Continue Reading
I live in Winder, Georgia. I received a brochure from my provider for my medical equipment, my nebulizer and breathing medicine and it says that Congress is gonna cut a lot of this out. We’re gonna go to other companies, it calls it competitive bidding. I am so against this. I, like so many other Americans, need this to keep us alive and I would like to keep using my provider. … … Continue Reading
“…we’re both on Medicare, and she is a person with COPD and other problems that require her to be on oxygen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. She is presently on liquid oxygen and uses a hand tank the name of which I can’t think of right now, but when we go out , its a very convenient way to carry her oxygen. It’s frozen oxygen to start with and it’s very easy, very … Continue Reading
“I live in Winder, Georgia. I have had a bout with lymphoma and I think as a result of this I have lymphedema in my legs. I require the hose during the day and the night time garments, at night. Plus, I have a mild case of COPD and I use the CPAP during the night to help me sleep. I think this is a necessity for my health and I just really don’t … Continue Reading
“I think as a Medicare patient and the equipment, I can’t believe that AARP has sold us out. I can’t believe the senators in Congress have sold us out. They’re not even under the same plan that they’re telling everybody else to be under. I think the whole program stinks. Thank you.”… Continue Reading
“I’m from Lexington, Georgia. I’ve had lung cancer and a section of my lung removed. I’m 72 years old, retired and I’m on oxygen therapy. According to this competitive business thing that this flier is mentioning, I might lose the oxygen company that I’m with now.
I’m a fisherman. That’s the one … Continue Reading
“I just received a notice that the medical, my oxygen and medical…is gonna be done on a competitive business and it’s gonna like do away with small people. Well I don’t appreciate this at all. I depend on this oxygen and I don’t want you to missing around with it. Because it’s a federal government gets in on it, it’s toast. So, can you please keep this out of the hands of the competitive biding which means … Continue Reading
“I’m totally against this new competitive bidding for oxygen supplies. All it does is confuse us older people that are on it and as it is we pay enough money for our services. We paid and dues and paid in to Medicare and I think that Senators and those that vote on this stuff should take him consideration that we are old and we have to live on a limited amount of income like social security. It’s very, very hard … Continue Reading
“I’m a home care salesman for the last 40 years and seen a lot things happen over the years and what I have seen right now, I don’t like. It is jeopardizing my livelihood but not only that, it’s hindering the patients that need the care and big GovCo is not going to be the answer to this problem. What needs to happen is the fat cats need to be getting taken out of the picture and … Continue Reading
“I am very upset that there’s a possibility for me to get equipment that I need for the rest of my life that I may have to go out of our town or maybe state to receive this equipment. It’s very unhealthy for older people to have to go further out of their city to get their medical equipment that they possibly will need and I live in Cabot, Arkansas. We have a equipment … Continue Reading
“I am calling on behalf of my husband who will eventually, in about a year, be a Medicare recipient. Right now he is on oxygen, and on top of it he has a refillable tank so that he can still go back and forth to work at the moment. That he does have a huge amount of breathing problems, does depend on this oxygen, and I understand that this new law that’s been in acted by … Continue Reading
“Hi, good afternoon. I just received a notice about this so-called competitive bidding about home care equipment – home medical care. And I can say that I am very, very disappointed in this. I expect our congressman to do better by those of us who are aging and who are on Medicare. I get my equipment from Monroe Wheelchair company who have been very, very kind and very helpful and everything they’ve done for us. … Continue Reading
“We have been using Professional Medical to supply oxygen for my husband. I have discovered that there is a new law which is going to make you use some of the cheapest bid, bidder for such. I do not agree with this. I think, that I would prefer to use a small business, that’s local, and that I would have be better be able to communicate with them, communicate my … Continue Reading
“Now that the legislation has been passed for Medicare and you have decided to take my benefits away and I’m retired, it’s gonna be very hard to vote for anybody in the senate or the presidency or that supported this Medicare change and hopefully it will be rescinded. I was told that I no longer will get my CPAC replacements because they have changed that law and they went to the lowest bidder and the provider … Continue Reading
“I’m a licensed social worker and I do discharge planning at a nursing home… in Piketown, Ohio. I’m concerned about the competitive bidding process, that law that’s being considered or actually passed, I’m not sure. I’m very strongly advocate of consumer choice and patient directive planning. Right now, I use 2 or … Continue Reading
competitive bidding will put many suppliers out of business, including us. we’ve been in business for 12 years, have been accreditated for 4 years, passed the CMS on-site visits with out the bat of an eye. What will happen is the suppliers that win the bid will not let the beneficiary decide on what equiptment thay want and will be forced to take the equiptment that is least expensive to that supplier. It is a lose lose program
My business is also awaiting for the accreditation company to come give us our site survey. We registered for the accreditation in June of 2008 and they tell me that they may not be able to get to our store in time. We have been servicing patients for 12 years and it will be devastating to our business if we do not receive our survey in time from the accreditation agency. I don’t believe this was the intention of the law to financially destroy our business or put us in this situation where we can not service our patients. Our … Continue Reading
“I have oxygen in my home. And I don’t want to change because it’s hard for me to get to know how to work everything because I can’t walk a lot or I get out of breath. And when I do call the service I’ve got, they’re here right away. And that I really don’t want to change and I don’t know why you have to change. When I’ve got the service that I’ve got that … Continue Reading
“I recently had this, get onto using oxygen in the house and also in transportation. And I just received a statement from my oxygen company, oxygen supplier today, stating that, it’s gonna be put on competitive bidding, and I may or may not have the same company, or I may or may not have 24 hour service in case something goes wrong with the machines or upkeep on the machines, or whatever, whatever the situation is, that these folks up … Continue Reading
“The patient is…my wife. We have very good service from the medical home health equipment people. It’s like the service that we get our hospital bed that we have for her in the house. It is necessary to be able to keep it operating properly and the oxygen machine and the two types of nebulizers that she needs, one for water and one for medicine has to be taken care once in a while and the CRE … Continue Reading
“This competitive bidding, especially on oxygen, is totally wrong. This is something that we do not need to pass. Once you have someone that has to be on oxygen as a lifesaving measure and you have to go with the company that only wants to give you the service that only government would allow, that just gives them a total monopoly, they can treat you however they want, they cannot be there for the accident, they … Continue Reading
“Hi, I have gone right now through a wheelchair and a walker and thank God I am down to a cane. But I have been able to talk these people they check to make sure to see if I am using the right size equipment and everything. I never go for low bids. Low bidding meens you’re getting crap. I mean I got when I examined what I am getting for my money. I dont want anybody telling me I cant go where I am going to get good personal service, just because they cheaper. Good … Continue Reading
Homecare Magazine
Dec 10, 2009 11:27 AM
WASHINGTON — More than a year after Congress delayed Round 1 of competitive bidding in July 2008, the Government Accountability Office has officially confirmed what industry stakeholders have been saying all along: The first round of DMEPOS bidding had major problems.
In a report released Dec. 7, the GAO found Round 1 suffered from poor communication by the Medicare program and an “inadequate” bid submission system, among other things.
According to the 65-page report, the bidding program “has the potential to produce considerable benefits including reducing overall Medicare spending for DME and limiting potential fraud through increased … Continue Reading
“I just got a notice today from our, the carrier that furnishes oxygen to my wife, and that company is called Medox. They’ve been very, very good to us and I just hate to think that this competitive bidding thing is going to make them go out of business if you will. I’m just so unhappy with this business, this thing that the government is fooling around, people in Congress is fooling around with. … Continue Reading
“Yes I’d like to be as sure that I’m going to get the best oxygen equipment possible rather than getting some second class or something that’s on the blink all the time. My life depends on my oxygen and I would prefer to have the best. Thank you. Bye.”
I’ld like to keep the medical supply place that I have. Because I’ve been with them for years and I know how they operate and I just don’t want to change.”
“I take care of my mother…. She is 83 years old and totally dependent. She’s on a feeding tube, in diapers, can’t walk, can’t swallow. End stages of dementia. I take care of her at home and I depend on small companies to assist me with their duro medical equipment and the service. So I am very much against the competitive bidding that has been allowed. I just want to let you know … Continue Reading
“I’m very unhappy with the new law that and its effects on physical and mental health, the one with competitive bidding. I think that I ought to be able to choose the home health service, the Medicare place that I want to. Thank you.”
“I live in Portsmouth, Ohio and I really am dead set against this bill. Right now I have a company that I enjoy, they’ve always been there for me midnight, 2:00 in the morning, if the power goes out. They’re bringing me down extra oxygen when I need it and I’ve grown to depend on. I’ve had them for the last 12 years and I don’t want somebody coming in and telling me that I have … Continue Reading
“Yes, I’m from Birmingham Alabama and we have received home health benefits from the small companies in our area and I do not think the government needs to play into this and take control of it. I think it needs to be left to the freedom of the people and to the small businessman to where they can compete with one another, and we will not be paying a high price and I’d like to see … Continue Reading
“Yes, I use Cornerstone Medical Services in Columbus, Georgia. I’ve been using them for 4 years and I’m very happy with their services. I do hope Congress leaves this alone and let us take care of our own medical needs. We don’t need their help in doing it. I wish to continue using Cornerstone Medical. Thank you.”
-I am on oxygen 24/7. My supplier is always available if there were an emergency. I have been given the latest up to date concentrators as they become available and they use good equipment with equipment checks and all that sort of stuff. I don’t know if this letter is to late to help.
Keep up the good work watching out for the little guys, patients & suppliers.
HME News
WASHINGTON – The VGM Group last week encouraged providers and their patients to submit formal complaints about national competitive bidding with CMS. The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (CRE) has identified three ways to do this: submit complaints by suppliers or individuals to the CMS competitive acquisition ombudsman; submit complaints by beneficiaries to the CMS Medicare beneficiary ombudsman; or submit complaints by beneficiaries to Medicare quality improvement organizations. Providers and their patients should provide a copy of their complaints to CRE, along with their permission to use them in discussions with CMS. “Do what is right for the industry and … Continue Reading
“…We have already been through problems where we did not get our diabetic supplies… and if you go to this then we might go back to that and we may not have any choice. You may not give us a choice as to who can provide them and if that’s the case then we have to start paying for them again and he hasn’t, he doesn’t have the money for that. He is on SSI and … Continue Reading
“Yes, I would just like to express my opinion on the competitive bidding. I am against it and I would like to have my free will to chose to buy where I need to buy my medical supplies. Thank you.”
“My husband and I both receive at home care for CPAP. He has one. I have one. We happen to have 2 different companies who supply us but they are small companies. They service us very well. The reason we have two different companies is we got them at two different times and that’s the way it worked out. But we very happy with the companies that we are using and I don’t want the … Continue Reading
“Yes, I am very well satisfied with the medical personnel that I got my breathing machines and equipment through and I prefer to stay with them instead of going to a smaller unpreferred company. I’d like to stay with the company I’m with which is James Medical Equipment in Danville, Kentucky and I’m very well pleased with them. Thank you and have a good day.”… Continue Reading
“I’m calling in regards to the competitive bidding that Congress has put in effect. I get my Medicare from a locally owned home medical equipment company here in Columbus Ohio and if a larger company takes over then I may have to wait a week or so before I can get my medication. This way this locally owned medical equipment company provides me with my Medicare assistance in a day or 2 days, at least. I just want you to know that I’m for the small company. Large companies shouldn’t be taking … Continue Reading
From Watchdog Watch
A senior HHS official told the Senate that provision of durable medical equipment “is an industry that has historically high risk for fraud.” The Department’s leadership also testified that “continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, oxygen equipment, glucose monitors and test strips, and power wheelchairs…are the most lucrative items for suppliers and thus, at the greatest risk of fraud.”
HHS leadership emphasized to the Senate the importance of CMS’ advanced data analysis techniques in assisting law enforcement authorities in combating fraud.
The official testified that “CMS is currently in the final stages of building an integrated data repository … Continue Reading
I have a very rare neurological disorder. I’m in a wheelchair, and get Willington Medical Supply catheters every month, and they supply my urological needs, and they tell me that I may loose them because of competitive bidding which means, well you know what competitive bidding is. I’m very unhappy with that, they’ve been very good to me over the years, and very kind and good, and when you find a company that’s kind and good … Continue Reading
“Mid Carolina Home Care Specialist is bringing me my oxygen and I don’t want them to be changed. I want them as my provider. They’re very nice, they courteous, they come when I needed something and this is very upsetting. I’d like to stay with them. I don’t know why they starting to go against seniors, you know, we did work all our lives and we are the backbone of America you know. It’s ridiculous. What … Continue Reading
“I called before…. I get my oxygen from Advance Home care in Lawrence, Kansas. I really would hate to see, I would hate to leave them, as my contact for oxygen. I don’t know really, if there’s something else I need to do to help keep it. I know other people that’s on oxygen and it’s rough, it’s really rough. … It would make it … Continue Reading
“Yeah, I’m on oxygen, in my home and the new law that takes effect, has really got me bothered. I don’t know what I would do if I lose the oxygen, cause I don’t think my survival rate would be very good without my home medical equipment. Because I have severe sleep apnea and I’ve got COPD and I really don’t want to lose the oxygen and I just wanted to know what I can do?”… Continue Reading
“Hello. I’m calling, but you keep Crest Care and smaller businesses that attend personally to my Medicare needs as far as breathing machines and respiratory and CPAP machines, and even wheelchairs and whatever might come under different things and because even, you know, maybe supports or back things. I have a lot of pain, extreme pain every single day in my back, behind my hips, legs, my feet. But as far as the respiratory things and equipment supplies … Continue Reading
