Bill seeks to strengthen protections for diabetes patients
By HME News Staff
Updated Tue October 10, 2017
WASHINGTON - Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Tim Scott, R-S.C., have introduced a bill to strengthen the patient protections that are part of Medicare's national mail-order program for diabetes testing supplies. The bill, the “Diabetes Supplies Act of 2017,” would reinforce existing protections that ensure beneficiaries are able to continue accessing familiar supplies through the program. It would also establish new surveillance programs and requirements for mail-order suppliers to better guard consumer access. “We want to ensure seniors can access the life-saving supplies and technologies that work best for them,” Warner said. “This will allow Medicare to continue employing innovative, cost-saving payment models, while also guaranteeing patients' access to necessary medical supplies.” The bill is in response to reports that a “50 Percent Rule” requiring suppliers to make available at least 50% of all types of diabetes supplies has been inadequate in protecting beneficiary choice.
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