Medicare Appoints DME Advisory Panel

Baltimore

Last month, CMS announced the members of the Program Advisory and Oversighnyt Committee (PAOC) that will advise the agency on implementation of DME competitive bidding and about establishing standards for suppliers who want to participate in the Medicare program.

“Medicare anticipates that beneficiaries will have access to higher quality at lower prices when it adopts a competitive bidding model for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies,” the agency said in a Sept. 24 press release. “Because the beneficiary pays 20 percent of the costs of these products and Medicare pays 80 percent, lower prices will help both [the] beneficiary and taxpayer.”

“We want all seniors and disabled individuals to have access to quality health care at the best possible price,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan. “This committee will help us get the process right.”

The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) requires DME competitive bidding to be phased in over a period of years, beginning in 2007 in 10 of the country’s largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).

The 21 committee members (listed at left), chosen from a cadre of 170 nominees, represents a broad range of stakeholders in the outcome of the competitive bidding process, including beneficiary and consumer groups, physicians, federal and state program officials and HME industry representatives. The committee will also advise CMS on beneficiary access issues, appropriate educational strategies, and financial and quality standards for suppliers under the program.

At press time, the committee was set to hold its first meeting on Oct. 6, and will meet periodically until the end of 2009.