Lawmakers: We need data on bid problems
By HME News Staff
Updated Tue July 9, 2013
WASHINGTON - Lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate are asking for “solid data” on the negative impact of competitive bidding on Medicare beneficiaries, according to AAHomecare.
As a result, the association is asking providers to collect the following pieces of data:
� Number of calls from beneficiaries regarding Round 2
� Number of callers who have already contracted CMS, and whether CMS addressed the situation
� Number of callers having problems getting equipment through CMS's list of contracted providers
� Number of callers offering to pay out-of-pocket
� Number of callers who need equipment repaired, including power mobility devices
“We will aggregate the data, remove anything that could identify a specific company and give it to Hill staffers to counter CMS's outrageous claims that the bidding program is working smoothly and that there are no negative impacts on beneficiaries,” AAHomecare stated.
The association asks that members send data on a weekly basis to Peter Rankin at peterr@aahomecare.org.
Additionally, AAHomecare is asking providers to encourage beneficiaries to make three calls to CMS (1-800-Medicare); People for Quality Care (1-800-404-8702); and their members of Congress (1-202-224-3121).
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