* You are viewing the archive for February, 2010

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (San Diego, CA)

“I use a wheelchair to get around,I use medical equipment in my house for lifting me out of the wheelchair and get me into bed and I don’t want cheaper medical equipment and I want to depend on the suppliers that I have now that carry quality medical equipment. So this competitive bidding is a bad idea. I need good quality medical equipment and I don’t think going cheaper is going to make any good sense… Thank you.”

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From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Matthews, NC)

“I want to object to a new law that’s being passed by Congress that forces me to use a particular home medical supplier and that the government chooses that supplier they want me to use. I do not want the government controlling small business. This eliminates competition and our government and our society and way of government thrives on competition. So I am definitely not for Congress passing any new law to this effect of enforcing … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Cleveland, TN)

“I’m a senior citizen but my husband and I still pay income tax and I would like it to be recorded that we are against this competitive bidding I had a pamphlet on it explaining it and we get good service from a smaller durable medical equipment company and I, listening to the President, I noticed he said the small business man is the answer to these problems that we’ve got, we need to shore them … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Cape Coral, FL)

“I am calling about the call the Congress has for competitive bidding on the Medicare beneficiaries. I have been on a CPAP for over 15 years and the first company I was with was absolutely terrible. One time my hose got a hole in it and they didn’t replace things regularly, the hose was at least two years old, and the company would not replace it without a doctor’s orders. We had to tape the hose … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Bristol, CT)

“I would like to be able to keep my local company.  It was very good in case of a storm when our facility, I’m the only one in the facility with oxygen and they asked me to leave because they had no lighting and without electricity of course.  And my provider came right away, brought me my oxygen tank that I would need for overnight at my daughter’s house and they’ve always … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Louisville, KY)

“Hi. I would just like to be sure that we can maintain the durable equipment that we have. My husband is ill and we have to have those things at home and I just want to make sure that they are still available to us and that nobody is telling us from whom we can get them. So if there is something I can do to be of help, in that regard, I would certainly be … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (New Haven, CT)

“I received a brochure from my medical suppliers for services regarding the competitive bidding and I want to put on notice that I’m very dissatisfied with that because in this brochure that I received it says Congress calls this competitive bidding, it is not used in any other area of medicine and it is new to all of us and will lead to many companies like ours being barred from serving Medicare benificiaries. I don’t like the idea of being forced to choose another bidder, and a low bidder at that, after I’ve had JNL for … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Charleston, TN)

“I have been with Professional Respiratory Service for several years and I would like to keep them as my professional respiratory because they always been good the time if something happens they’re out here in a short while.  And they always take good care of my machine and they take care of me and my oxygen and I would gladly appreciate it if you would keep them as my services. Thank you.”… Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Pilot Grove, MO)

“Hi. I am an 85 year old Senior Citizen and I want to let you know how unhappy I am with this new law. It will affect my physical and mental health very much. I have oxygen tanks and other machines and I need a close provider to help me when I need them. My provider now is Community Medical Equipment in Bloomsdale, Missouri. Thanks for listening, have a good day.”… Continue Reading

Medicare anti-fraud rule disrupts South Florida senior care

 

Crackdown on home health fraud causes ripple effect

 

Home health nurse Henrietta Jacobson used to visit a disabled diabetic in Fort Lauderdale twice a day to give him insulin shots, enough help so he could keep living on his own.

No more. The man, about 70, moved to a nursing home because of a … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Meriden, CT)

“Hello. I’d like to tell you that I’ve had very, very good experience with the company that I’m with since 2005 for the oxygen supplies.  I can always call on of them.  Their equipment has been very, very good quality, and their service has been just outstanding, and I really appreciate it where such an important thing, if something goes wrong you really need, just about immediate attention to it.  The company I am with is … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Pilot Grove, MO)

“Hello this I am very disappointed in this new law and it will effect my physical and mental health. It is closer for me to get to get to go down to [???] and get what I need as I live by myself and it is very inconvenient any other way. Please see that this law [don’t go?] through. Thank you.”… Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Salisbury, MO)

“I want you to know, and to let all the people know, how unhappy I am with this new law.  I have COPD, I am on oxygen 24/7 and my local health care provides it to me, they bring to me.  I do not want anyone else helping me with this, so please, please do not let this new law be passed.  Thank you.”… Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Fortuna, MO)

“I’m disabled handicapped. I’m on oxygen and I’ve been paying into this Medicare system since its conception. And I want to know why they’re thinking about putting us on this one company. Why are they taking away the company that we were used to, that have been my medical provider for quite a while now and they’re excellent in their work. And I don’t worry about whether I’m going to be able to breathe tomorrow or … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678

“I have oxygen and I am only on it at night but the people that take care of me is a small company and they come every 10 days and check my, make sure everything is ok and give me my supplies and I am very satisfied.  I live in a small town. We have no place to get oxygen so I have to go to the town next down and if they don’t … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Boonville, MO)

“I am calling about competitive law bidding.  I live in a small town of 7,000 and we have only one equipment provider.  And when we need somebody, he always comes when we call. He is on call 24 hours a day.  And we have got used to him and if it was somebody else, they would have to come 20 miles to where I live.  And a lot … Continue Reading

Concern for Small, Local Companies

I’m concerned that small, local DME companies, who are already operating at the barely surviving level, will be forced out due to the bidding process, particularly in rural areas. CMS claims that this concern has been taken care of, but it seemed in the first flawed bidding process the large city areas like Los Angeles, etc. were so large that they overlapped into what are really rural areas of California which are actually hours removed from any DME supplier who might have been awarded contracts under the bidding process. Small, local DME companies with quick delivery to patients are the … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Macon, GA)

“Yes, good afternoon. The reason I’m calling for is I read this flyer about what they call competitive bidding for the Medicare patients. Thecre.com who says that there’s a good possibility that I would have to, what did they say, go to another provider for oxygen. I’ve had these people for a long time and there is no way that you’re going to change that. I don’t care. Tell Dr. Obama, President Obama whatever he is, … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Pilot Grove, MO)

“I live in Cooper County in Missouri and I have been on Medicare for quite a while and I’ve got breathing problems and other stuff that my medical provider gives me. I have been so well taken care of by these people I should would hate to have to start all over again with somebody new. I’d appreciate you voting no for this problem and so we can stay we are at cause I’m well pleased … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Fayette, MO)

“I would just like to say that I’m disbled, I’m on a walker, I have sleep apnea, I’m on oxygen at night, I live in a small town and I’m serviced by another small town that’s about 15 miles away that gives excellent service.  I’m just concerned about the new law and how it would affect me and everything.  I know I don’t know really, what all to say, just know that it sounds … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Keytesville, MO)

“I just wan to tell you that I am very much against this competitive bidding. I don’t want to lose our local agencies because them I can depend on, otherwise I could not depend on anything. So I don’t want this competitive bidding. Thank you.”

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From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Boonville, MO)

“A couple of years ago I had pnemonia four times. I never could seem to get over it and the local home medical company came in and they set me up with an oxygen machine which had been an almost life saver at that time.  I enjoy having the local people because they come and they service it, they check to see if it’s running properly and they do this about every 6 weeks … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Hartford, CT)

“I’m calling to complain about this Medicare competitive bidding. I’m working with a small company.  I have sleep apnea and they are wonderful, courteous, timely and effective and I really, really don’t want to lose that to a competitive bidding. Please please do something about it. Thank you.”

Listen … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Moberly, MO)

“Yes, I’m calling in regards to the oxygen that I receive from my caregiver.  I like the company, they’re there when you need them 24/7.  In the middle of the night 3:00, 4:00 in the morning, if you need something, they ride out to your door.  Bigger companies aren’t like that.  I was with one company that let you run completely out of oxygen.  I couldn’t … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (New Franklin, MO)

“This is…again I am really upset about what this government is trying to do. This small business is in my area and if I have any problems I can call them and they’ll be right out her. Now I don’t want somebody from Kansas City, I live in New Franklin about 100 miles from ’em. I don’t want someone in Kansas City have to drive throughout here and maybe have to wait two or three days … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (New Franklin, MO)

“This is…in New Franklin, Missouri and I have a small business that I love and they are very good. I use oxygen at home and I use portable oxygen. They come by. They check all my equipment every month. And I don’t want these people to be, I don’t want to lose these people. Now, somebody do something, this is bull. These guys are good at what they do. They are very reasonable. And they have … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Rossville, GA)

“Yes, I’m calling about the changes that they’re trying to make with providers on durable medical equipment. Changing providers for senior citizens is not good. We have a hard enough time trying to make ends meet with fixed incomes and then have to find out where the new providers are located if y’all change us and build up trust in the new providers. I just don’t think this is a good idea. We’re set with our … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (Washington, MI)

“Yes, I understand the new law passed by Congress, you could be forced to use a different home medical equipment supplier that was chosen by the US government because of a low bid.  I enjoy using my local home care.  A very competent supplier.  I use it for myself.  My husband uses it, and I used it for my very aged mother.  They are … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (New Braunfels, TX)

“Hello, we got this flyer from our oxygen provider telling about this competitive bidding and I really don’t like that. It seems like we might be forced to have another bidder. One that we don’t know, maybe one that’s not in our town, these people are here and we get very, very good service from them and we’re on Medicare so we wouldn’t want to be forced to change. I don’t think that’s a, an ethical … Continue Reading

From CRE’s DME Hotline: 1-800-613-7678 (San Angelo, TX)

“Hi.  I live in San Angelo, Texas and I have a wonderful medical equipment provider and I would hate to lose them. They are there, they support our community and they are very dependable and I don’t think the government should tell me how and what people to use for my medical treatment and stuff. I am very concerned about this law being passed and I hope the powers that be can stop this and cancel … Continue Reading