Actor Jerry Lewis, 44 House Members Urge Delay of PMD Fees

WASHINGTON–Actor Jerry Lewis and a group of 44 bipartisan
legislators are the latest to join the fight against CMS’ power
mobility reimbursement cuts.

Lewis, who is national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy
Association, asked HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt to postpone the
pricing and coverage policies, saying they will hurt people with
muscular dystrophy and other severe disabilities.

The new fee schedule, set to take effect Nov. 15, contains cuts
of more than 40 percent for some equipment (see HomeCare Monday, Oct. 9).

“These changes are so drastic and so detrimental to ‘my kids’
and other Americans with progressive diseases that I’m prepared to
drop everything and address this issue personally,” he wrote in a
letter to Leavitt.

Lewis said that although CMS’ original intention was to combat
fraud, the agency is “misleading Americans by claiming that these
new policies will provide appropriate power wheelchairs for all
Medicare beneficiaries … The new eligibility criteria will make
it very difficult for those with progressive diseases to receive
power wheelchairs equipped for their needs.”

A copy of the letter was sent to President Bush and all members
of Congress.

Meanwhile, a group of 44 House members said that they, too, are
“troubled” by the possible impact of the PMD fee schedule.

In a letter sent to Leavitt on Tuesday, the 22 Democrats and 22
Republican lawmakers said they were concerned by reports that the
fee schedule would result in reductions for Group 3 devices in
excess of 30 percent.

“We understand that the reductions for Group 3 power mobility
devices are below the cost for suppliers to acquire the product and
perform the clinically necessary services in order to furnish these
power mobility devices to disabled beneficiaries,” the letter
read.

“Accordingly, we respectfully request that you intervene to
ensure that implementation of the fee schedule is postponed until
revisions can be made to protect the access to medically
appropriate care for individuals with disabilities.”

Since the new fee schedule was issued Oct. 2 (see HomeCare Monday, Oct. 23), other
lawmakers from around the country–including legislators in Ohio,
Pennsylvania and South Dakota–have urged CMS to postpone and
revise the fee schedule. And last week, providers in Iowa and Utah
asked Sens. Chuck Grassley and Orrin Hatch, respectively, both
members of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, to oppose the
cuts.