New report raises further doubts on bid program
By HME News Staff
Updated Tue September 20, 2016
WASHINGTON - The Council for Quality Respiratory Care says lawmakers should heed the findings of a new white paper that raises concerns about the roll out of competitive bid rates nationwide.
The “State of Expert Judgment Regarding Medicare's Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment,” published by The Moran Company, looks at the history and intent of the program, its implementation, the problems that result when bid pricing is used to develop reimbursement amounts for home respiratory care supplies and services, and other DME.
The white paper highlights several “deficiencies” with the program, including: use of non-binding bids; use of the median bid to calculate payment amounts; the use of composite bids, which it says incentivizes bidders to “game the system” by bidding low for some products and high for others.
“Given the problems with the competitive biding program outlined in this report, doubt has been cast on the validity of the pricing information the program has produced,” said The Moran Company. “Applying this information nationwide, to non-competitively bid areas, could lead to unsustainable reimbursement levels.”
The Moran Report underscores the need for legislation to roll back the cuts that took effect July 1, says CQRC Chairman Dan Starck.
“It's time for Congress to pass this legislation before patient care coordination and care management services are jeopardized,” he said.
The industry has a short window in which to pass a pair of bills that would soften the blow of the bidding program.
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