Discussion Forum

Editor’s Note:  The following article discusses Congressional deliberations on a new Medicare competitive bidding program without recognizing the proven harms to Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers from poorly conceived “competitive bidding” programs that are neither competitive nor a true auction.

From: Inside Health Policy

The Medicare reform plan by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) would give seniors the choice of staying in traditional fee-for-service or choosing a plan from a newly created Medicare exchange, but the duo deflected questions about how the plan would build on the insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act, indicating that the … Continue Reading

From: HomeCare Magazine

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., have sent a letter to Marilyn Tavenner, acting director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, asking that the Independence at Home program be given higher priority.

The program is included in health care reform and is designed to deliver home-based care to Medicare patients with chronic conditions. It was supposed to start as a demonstration project for up to 10,000 beneficiaries on Jan. 1, 2012.

“Yet with three weeks remaining in the year, CMS still has not released guidelines for providers that wish to apply for … Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Sustainable Market Pricing Program Corrects Flaws in Current Bidding Program, Preserves Access to Home-Based Care for Millions of Americans

The American Association for Homecare urges Congress to enact the Market Pricing Program (MPP), a reform of Medicare’s pricing system that is an alternative to the controversial bidding scheme for durable medical equipment and services.

“As it’s currently designed, Medicare’s bidding system reduces choice, access, and quality of care for seniors and people with disabilities who require home medical equipment and services,” said Tyler J. Wilson, president of the American Association for Homecare. “It also … Continue Reading