Good News from Capitol Hill for People with Progressive Muscle Diseases Who Use

[Guest guest]

Good News from Capitol Hill for People with Progressive Muscle

Diseases Who Use Medicare

http://www.mda.org/news/080710medicare-competitive-bidding.html

On July 9, the Senate handily passed the Medicare Improvement for

Patients and Providers Act. (The Act already had been passed by a

large majority in the House.) In addition to quashing a proposed

reimbursement cut for doctors who treat Medicare patients, the Act

delays implementation of the controversial national competitive

bidding program, designed by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

Services) to go into effect this summer.

MDA's Advocacy program lobbied hard for passage of the Act, which has

clear implications for people served by the Association.

In its current form, the national competitive bidding program poses a

threat to people who rely on complex assistive equipment, such as

high-tech custom power wheelchairs. Designed to rein in costs,

competitive bidding limits Medicare patients seeking assistive

equipment to a few preselected equipment vendors in each region –

usually the lowest bidders in the area.

MDA, in concert with other advocacy groups, charged that competitive

bidding promotes a " one-size-fits-all " approach to providing and

servicing assistive equipment, and doesn't address the unique and

changing needs of people with severe progressive conditions like

muscular dystrophy.

MDA Vice President of Advocacy Annie Kennedy was pleased Congress

listened to advocates and delayed the start of the program. " We were

deeply concerned, " said Kennedy. " An 18-month delay gives Congress

and CMS, with the public's help, breathing room in which to ensure

that government regulations don't make life unbearable for people

with disabilities. There is still much work to be done to create

permanent protections for those served by MDA but today was a great

start. "

The Act now goes to President Bush for signing; it passed in both the

Senate and House by great enough margins to override a presidential

veto, if necessary.

See the MDA Advocacy pages for more information on MDA's advocacy

efforts and how you can be involved.