US-Politics/OPINION: Us-Medicare Competitive Bid
Morris Gallo
Description
Collection
Title:
US-Politics/OPINION: Us-Medicare Competitive Bid
Creator:
Morris Gallo
Date:
6/19/2007
Text:
All providers should by now be aware of CMS's competitive bid scheme for
DME, to include orthotics. This competitive bid is being piggy-backed
with the requirement that all DME providers be qualified, meaning your
facility is accredited, not that the person providing the service is
competent or even certified.
This will be a cash bonanza for the 11 accrediting agencies, especially
ABC and BOC. You notice how ABC and BOC have been heralding in
advertising that they have been selected. All Medicare DME providers
are now forced to submit to accreditation of the facility and pay a
rather substantial fee for initial inspection and then a yearly renewal
fee. These fees are in the $$$thousands. Is it any wonder our
certifying agencies, ABC and BOC, have for years been pushing and trying
to inject facility certification into federal and state laws and rules.
They have finally succeeded.
Do any of you wonder why a PT, OT, or Dr. can provide orthotics incident
to their practice without being awarded a winning competitive bid nor
being facility certified. This means the folks with the least
likelihood of being competent to help the patient are being given the
exclusive ability to provide these services without the expense and
hassle of facility accreditation nor having to submit a winning bid.
Even if you are fortunate enough to have a winning bid against the large
national companies, how will you compete with the PT/OT/Dr/sales rep to
provide prefab orthotics with this unfair financial advantage. Seems
their organizations have been able to convince Congress and CMS they are
professionals and don't need all these extra layers of bureaucracy and
expense to treat patients, while our organizations are looking out for
themselves.
There are now in the works lawsuits to abolish competitive bidding or at
least change the way it has been applied. There are also moves to
change facility accreditation. Here is an article that details how VGM
is helping to fund a lawsuit against competative bbidding.
<URL Redacted>
< <URL Redacted>>
You may also want to subscribe to HME News, they have done a good job of
keeping abreast of the legislative changes.
Morris Gallo, LPO
DME, to include orthotics. This competitive bid is being piggy-backed
with the requirement that all DME providers be qualified, meaning your
facility is accredited, not that the person providing the service is
competent or even certified.
This will be a cash bonanza for the 11 accrediting agencies, especially
ABC and BOC. You notice how ABC and BOC have been heralding in
advertising that they have been selected. All Medicare DME providers
are now forced to submit to accreditation of the facility and pay a
rather substantial fee for initial inspection and then a yearly renewal
fee. These fees are in the $$$thousands. Is it any wonder our
certifying agencies, ABC and BOC, have for years been pushing and trying
to inject facility certification into federal and state laws and rules.
They have finally succeeded.
Do any of you wonder why a PT, OT, or Dr. can provide orthotics incident
to their practice without being awarded a winning competitive bid nor
being facility certified. This means the folks with the least
likelihood of being competent to help the patient are being given the
exclusive ability to provide these services without the expense and
hassle of facility accreditation nor having to submit a winning bid.
Even if you are fortunate enough to have a winning bid against the large
national companies, how will you compete with the PT/OT/Dr/sales rep to
provide prefab orthotics with this unfair financial advantage. Seems
their organizations have been able to convince Congress and CMS they are
professionals and don't need all these extra layers of bureaucracy and
expense to treat patients, while our organizations are looking out for
themselves.
There are now in the works lawsuits to abolish competitive bidding or at
least change the way it has been applied. There are also moves to
change facility accreditation. Here is an article that details how VGM
is helping to fund a lawsuit against competative bbidding.
<URL Redacted>
< <URL Redacted>>
You may also want to subscribe to HME News, they have done a good job of
keeping abreast of the legislative changes.
Morris Gallo, LPO
Citation
Morris Gallo, “US-Politics/OPINION: Us-Medicare Competitive Bid,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 1, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/228355.
