Bid relief: Sen. Hatch calls for action
By HME News Staff
Updated Fri May 4, 2018
WASHINGTON - Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who is chairman of the influential Senate Finance Committee, has written a letter to HHS and CMS urging them to provide relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program, the VGM Group reports.
In the May 1 letter, Hatch urges HHS to submit a mandated report on the impact of the application of competitive bidding rates in non-bid areas, and to take appropriate action to ensure access to DME in those areas.
Hatch also urged the agencies to address a number of concerns with the national mail-order program for diabetes testing supplies, including the decrease in the number of contract providers for these supplies.
The letter follows a meeting between members of the Utah Medical Equipment Dealers and the offices of Hatch and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Among the topics discussed at the meeting: H.R. 4229 and an interim final rule stuck at the Office of Management and Budget, both of which would provide relief from the bid program in rural areas.
“This is a great example of the importance of grassroots activities,” VGM stated in a bulletin.
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