Discussion Forum

Editor’s Note:  Every independent expert who has examined Medicare’s “competitive bidding” program for home medical equipment has determined that it will fail.  Hundreds of economists, including Nobel laureates, and researchers working under a National Science Foundation grant and the Congressional Budget Office have all reached a similar conclusion.  HHS/CMS has been deaf to the science community and pursued their own deeply flawed plan.  Now the human toll is starting to be felt.  The article below explains why Congress must pass H.R. 6490 – The Medicare DMEPOS Market Pricing Program Act of 2012.

From: CBS/Miami

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC), which describes itself as “America’s oldest, most diverse, and broadest based group working to achieve comprehensive health system reform” has proposed a major expansion of CMS’ competitive bidding program  “to the categories of durable medical equipment not included in the current program, including items such as nebulizers and ventilators.”  NCHC also supports “reducing the rate at which the federal government reimburses state Medicaid programs for DME” to Medicare levels.

Because the CMS bidding program has been castigated by every independent expert which has examined it for its … Continue Reading

From: Home Care Magazine

WASHINGTON, D.C., —As waves of audits continue to slam the home care sector, the AAHomecare Regulatory Council recently wrapped up a two-day work session at its headquarters in Washington. The top focus has been audit issues including lowering error rates, auditor oversight, and face-to-face exam educational materials.

Unless the error rate decreases, the home care sector will continue to be the target of congressional pressure and fraud charges. Dramatic measures are needed to bring the rate down. The HME community must also highlight the auditor error rate, which is the rate at which their claims denials are overturned … Continue Reading

From: Watchdog Watch

by Winston

The National Coalition for Health Care (NCHC), which describes itself as “America’s oldest, most diverse, and broadest based group working to achieve comprehensive health system reform,” has turned against America’s Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

More specifically, NCHC has release a major policy statement calling for an expansion of CMS’ bidding program to include “categories of durable medical equipment not included in the current program, including items such as nebulizers and ventilators.” NCHC also called for applying CMS’ Medicare bidding prices to Medicaid.

Noted regulatory watchdog the Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (CRE) responded to the NCHC … Continue Reading