Provider is old hat at competitive bidding
By Tracy Orzel
Updated Fri September 25, 2015
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Once the bid window for Round 1 2017 opens on Oct. 15, Maurie Lecker will begin formulating his bids, but this isn't the provider's first rodeo.
“The bidding process really hasn't changed over all these years,” said Lecker, co-owner of Medical Homecare Supply in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Though CMS offers educational materials to help providers submit accurate and complete bids, Lecker says he doesn't need them.
“Once you've done it once or twice, it's pretty easy to go through the steps,” he said.
However, that doesn't mean improvements can't be made to the system, Lecker says. CMS could streamline the submission process and save providers with multiple locations time by allowing them to copy and paste their bid information when submitting in multiple bid areas, he says.
“If there are eight bid areas, you've got to go into each area and set up the bid,” he said. “Then once you've completed that one and certified everything is OK, you've got to start all over again.”
Lecker plans to submit bids for all product categories except negative pressure wound therapy and enteral supplies.
“People who are doing suicide bids are killing themselves,” he said. “I don't know how you can deliver a rental wheelchair for $22 a month, when your delivery cost is close to $40. I'm an old CPA; the numbers just don't add up.”
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