Give and Take

It’s a town of history and current events, of patriots and politicians — a place where promises seem more easily made than kept. Washington, D. C., is a city of contradictions, and a fitting venue for political opinions that are, more often than not, on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Usually.

But this summer something very unusual is happening in the Capitol City. Lawmakers are working together to overhaul Medicare. Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives alike are betting on the plan. And legislators are working quickly, something else that’s out of the ordinary in Washington.

After years of political stalemate, Medicare reform moved suddenly into real time as the effort picked up steam last month. In only a matter of days, the measure sailed through committee markup in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. And just like that, the specter of competitive bidding became real.

There is no question that Medicare needs reform. Analysts project that the overburdened program, which now serves more than 40 million older Americans, will be bankrupt by 2026.

So, while proposing the addition of a $400 billion benefit to help seniors pay their prescription bills — something almost every political leader in Washington has pledged — the 108th Congress also is endeavoring to shore up Medicare’s finances. The Senate version of the bill calls for a price freeze on DME reimbursement to reduce costs. In contrast, the House bill contains a national competitive bidding provision that would grant Medicare business to the lowest bidders for a three-year period. The set-up would limit choice, and could lower quality of care, for the very beneficiaries that Medicare is trying to help. Not to mention that it would jeopardize small providers — the industry’s backbone — by shifting the focus from service to price.

While the outcome of final legislation is in question as HomeCare goes to press, this time around Congress is poised to act on Medicare reform. President Bush has called for a bill on his desk this month.

The coming days will be critical in reaching out to Congress. Call your elected officials and tell them how the Medicare reform measures they are considering would affect the future of your HME business — and your patients’ care.

Give them your opinions before they take away your free enterprise.