Academy News: Continue to fight competitive bidding
Tom Gorski, CAE
Description
Collection
Title:
Academy News: Continue to fight competitive bidding
Creator:
Tom Gorski, CAE
Date:
9/25/2002
Text:
The Academy thanks those individuals who have written Congress to express their opposition to including orthotic devices in competitive bidding. Now it's time to step it up a notch.
Below is a draft letter used by patients of Wendy Beattie, CPO, FAAOP to explain the impact competitive bidding would have on them. We urge you to consider offering it (or something similar) to your patients to send to Sen. Bob Graham. We've seen how the power of letters - even as few as 15 - can have on whether a congressman supports or opposes an issue.
Encourage your patients -- the people who will be most affected -- to make the difference by signing and faxing this letter.
Senator Bob Graham
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0903
Fax: (202) 224-2237
Dear Senator Graham:
I am a user of orthotic devices and have strong reservations concerning the competitive bidding proposal. I believe the quality of my care would be jeopardized if this proposal becomes law. My concerns include its impact on having my choice of a competent orthotic practitioner, maintaining access to orthotic devices and most importantly, receiving quality orthotic devices ordered by my physician.
In the past, my physician, based on his experience with orthotic providers in my area, referred me to a specific orthotist certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics. I have developed an important relationship with my orthotist. He has taken the time to understand my specific needs and I believe that the level and quality of care I have received from this practitioner has been essential to my recovery and continued treatment. It is my wish to be able to continue my relationship with this provider. However, I am concerned that if competitive bidding is put in place and my orthotist is not a winning bidder, I will not be able to receive orthotic care from my choice of providers.
As great a concern to me is that because of my condition, I have restricted mobility. I do not think that Congress should make it more difficult for me to receive the care I need because I have to travel further to see a provider because the provider I prefer was not a winning bidder.
I am also worried that the quality of care I receive will suffer if the provider who simply bids the least is afforded the contract. Will this individual be qualified and trained in orthotic care? How do I know I will be getting what my doctor ordered and not just inexpensive equipment? Further, if I require more than one orthosis, and assuming that my orthotist was not a winning bigger, what will happen if one of the devices I need is competitively bid and the other is not? Will I be required to seek care at separate facilities for these separate devices?
As an orthotic user and Medicare recipient, I urge you to exclude orthotics from any competitive bidding proposal because this provision threatens my access to services, patient safety and the quality of orthotic services. I understand your need to control Medicare spending but sacrificing quality and access to orthotic devices is the wrong way to achieve this goal.
Thank you for your consideration of this important issue and I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Below is a draft letter used by patients of Wendy Beattie, CPO, FAAOP to explain the impact competitive bidding would have on them. We urge you to consider offering it (or something similar) to your patients to send to Sen. Bob Graham. We've seen how the power of letters - even as few as 15 - can have on whether a congressman supports or opposes an issue.
Encourage your patients -- the people who will be most affected -- to make the difference by signing and faxing this letter.
Senator Bob Graham
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0903
Fax: (202) 224-2237
Dear Senator Graham:
I am a user of orthotic devices and have strong reservations concerning the competitive bidding proposal. I believe the quality of my care would be jeopardized if this proposal becomes law. My concerns include its impact on having my choice of a competent orthotic practitioner, maintaining access to orthotic devices and most importantly, receiving quality orthotic devices ordered by my physician.
In the past, my physician, based on his experience with orthotic providers in my area, referred me to a specific orthotist certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics. I have developed an important relationship with my orthotist. He has taken the time to understand my specific needs and I believe that the level and quality of care I have received from this practitioner has been essential to my recovery and continued treatment. It is my wish to be able to continue my relationship with this provider. However, I am concerned that if competitive bidding is put in place and my orthotist is not a winning bidder, I will not be able to receive orthotic care from my choice of providers.
As great a concern to me is that because of my condition, I have restricted mobility. I do not think that Congress should make it more difficult for me to receive the care I need because I have to travel further to see a provider because the provider I prefer was not a winning bidder.
I am also worried that the quality of care I receive will suffer if the provider who simply bids the least is afforded the contract. Will this individual be qualified and trained in orthotic care? How do I know I will be getting what my doctor ordered and not just inexpensive equipment? Further, if I require more than one orthosis, and assuming that my orthotist was not a winning bigger, what will happen if one of the devices I need is competitively bid and the other is not? Will I be required to seek care at separate facilities for these separate devices?
As an orthotic user and Medicare recipient, I urge you to exclude orthotics from any competitive bidding proposal because this provision threatens my access to services, patient safety and the quality of orthotic services. I understand your need to control Medicare spending but sacrificing quality and access to orthotic devices is the wrong way to achieve this goal.
Thank you for your consideration of this important issue and I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Citation
Tom Gorski, CAE, “Academy News: Continue to fight competitive bidding,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 23, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/219554.
