Clinicians speak out on bid program
By HME News Staff
Updated Wed May 24, 2017
WATERLOO, Iowa - People for Quality Care, the advocacy arm of The VGM Group, has released a video featuring damning testimony from clinicians on Medicare's competitive bidding program. The clinicians provided the testimony at an annual conference recently hosted by Handi Medical Supply in Saint Paul, Minn. “Our goal is to empower the industry with the tools needed to continue the fight as we work together toward relief,” said Kelly Turner, executive director of PFQC. “This video reinforces the message shared by the industry and other stakeholders that the program is harming the very people it's designed to protect and is in desperate need of reform.” Clinicians say the faulty program, combined with unsustainable reimbursement rates, has resulted in preventable hospital readmissions and reduced options. It has also resulted in patients either going without equipment or supplies, or paying for them out of pocket. “It may be great for Medicare; it's not great for the patient,” says one clinician, who has been coordinating care for 45 years. “It is the worse thing that I've seen in my entire life.” PFQC encourages providers to share the video as part of their lobbying efforts.
Comments