Comments on: Award for the Worst Legislative Proposal that Actually Has a Chance of Becoming Law http://healthblog.ncpa.org/award-for-the-worst-legislative-proposal-that-actually-has-a-chance-of-becoming-law/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Mon, 21 May 2012 14:39:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Richard Walker http://healthblog.ncpa.org/award-for-the-worst-legislative-proposal-that-actually-has-a-chance-of-becoming-law/comment-page-1/#comment-38839 Richard Walker Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:47:31 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/award-for-the-worst-legislative-proposal-that-actually-has-a-chance-of-becoming-law/#comment-38839 For those of us who hold to the faint hope that Medicare will still be viable in our retirement, implementing a competitive bidding program for Medicare supplies seems an obvious move to trim unnecessary costs. I agree with the USA TODAY editorial that a Congressional delay likely equals doom for the 10-city bidding program launch next week. For those of us who hold to the faint hope that Medicare will still be viable in our retirement, implementing a competitive bidding program for Medicare supplies seems an obvious move to trim unnecessary costs. I agree with the USA TODAY editorial that a Congressional delay likely equals doom for the 10-city bidding program launch next week.

]]> By: Devon Herrick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/award-for-the-worst-legislative-proposal-that-actually-has-a-chance-of-becoming-law/comment-page-1/#comment-38836 Devon Herrick Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:51:45 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/award-for-the-worst-legislative-proposal-that-actually-has-a-chance-of-becoming-law/#comment-38836 <p>With Tuesday’s House vote, Congress is moving closer to shelving a Medicare program requiring a competitive bidding system for durable medical equipment purchases that has already lowered costs by 26 percent. (<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/business/25leonhardt.html?scp=1&sq=high+costs+courtesy+of+congress&st=nyt" rel="nofollow">article</a>) Even a New York Times editorial has condemned this exercise in special interest lobbying.</p> <p>The current system of reimbursing durable medical equipment suppliers through a fee schedule has long been prone to fraud and abuse by some equipment suppliers. Requiring competitive bidding would not only lower the price Medicare pays for equipment, it would also put many fly-by-night operators out of business.</p> <p>A report by Heritage Foundation scholar Bob Moffit offers more details on the cost implications of a delayed or defeated bidding program.</p> With Tuesday’s House vote, Congress is moving closer to shelving a Medicare program requiring a competitive bidding system for durable medical equipment purchases that has already lowered costs by 26 percent. (article) Even a New York Times editorial has condemned this exercise in special interest lobbying.

The current system of reimbursing durable medical equipment suppliers through a fee schedule has long been prone to fraud and abuse by some equipment suppliers. Requiring competitive bidding would not only lower the price Medicare pays for equipment, it would also put many fly-by-night operators out of business.

A report by Heritage Foundation scholar Bob Moffit offers more details on the cost implications of a delayed or defeated bidding program.

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