HALIFAX, Va.--In late February, the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers introduced an online petition to stop competitive bidding.
Today, the petition has more than 5,100 signatures.
“The response has been great,” cheered NAIMES Chairman Wayne Sale, president of Health First in Richmond, Va., adding the organization will continue to send reports from the petition site to state HME associations.
The group hopes the signatures, gathered from every corner of the country, will show Congress that competitive bidding will result in job losses, higher overall costs and diminished services.
One signer from Florida summed up the problems with competitive bidding this way: “Competitive bidding profoundly affects how patients will receive in-home medical equipment and supplies. The entire process is short-sighted and poorly thought out. No money will be saved in the end, but many, many citizens will suffer and perhaps die as a result of the poor level of services and equipment they will receive.”
Wayne Stanfield, NAIMES president, said many of the petition's signers have expressed similar “heartfelt and powerful” concerns. “We feel that this type of response will be helpful when presented to members of Congress from their own constituents at home,” he said.
Here is a sample of comments from the petition, which has been signed by beneficiaries, providers, therapists and others connected to HME:
“I am in the second round of bidding and am very worried about the future of my company. We are celebrating our fifth year in business and hope that it will not be [the] last. My company is very small (less than a million in gross annual sales), and if I don't win this bid, we won't survive … I have currently incurred a lot of expense with getting our ATS and accredited. I believe that at this point we should see how many companies comply with those requirements first. We know people who cheat the system will always find a way to cheat. People who are hardworking always end up paying for those who cheat. Can't we find a way to save the honest, hardworking companies? I have sacrificed so much just to build my business and now I may not even be able to continue it because of the bidding.”
“I am [a] physical therapist. Competition for the DME business creates quality service, not price-fixing. Medicare consumers should have a choice like anyone else. It's the choice that keeps suppliers doing what's best for the client. My experience has been that the small to medium-size companies provide the best service and equipment. They are local people taking care of people from their own community … Save the local suppliers.”
“This is a terrible waste! If we, as citizens cannot choose our own personal companies, that will be close to our homes to help us … then what good are our machines? I have sleep apnea, my husband is diabetic. If it wasn't for the closeness of our health care providers, we would have to wait days before we got our testing supplies and longer if my [biPAP] machine stopped working … The added bonus is that we talk face to face with the health care professional! Not from a phone or recording!”
“Competitive bidding is anything but competitive. Reducing the number of providers does nothing but make the marketplace less competitive. Medicare beneficiaries will now have fewer suppliers to choose from. Some beneficiaries will be stuck with out-of-town providers. Do you think they will be driving 30 miles with gas above $3 a gallon to help Mrs. Smith with her broken equipment? Not until they have three or four other stops in her area. Competitive bidding is exactly what the government spent millions of dollars fighting Microsoft from having--an unfair advantage in the marketplace. It is okay to set new standards, i.e., accreditation. It is okay to set new allowables. But why not let those qualified to provide DME decide for themselves whether or not they want to provide at the set allowables?”
“Small businesses provide more new jobs than any other, yet this competitive bidding legislation places small businesses at a distinct competitive disadvantage. Small businesses offer personalized, individual care for patients that normally is not available at large department stores whose volume purchasing capability places small businesses at still another competitive bidding disadvantage. This legislation is bad legislation and contrary to the genuine needs of post-mastectomy patients. I urge it be repealed.”
“Most of our customers choose to do business with us. Competitive bidding will take that option away. CMS is only considering the amount of money they spend, not the level of service beneficiaries receive. I have worked hard for 13 years to establish a positive reputation with our local medical community. The stated goal of competitive bidding was to eliminate 35-40 percent of the small HME companies. I have eight employees. Will you come to my place of business and tell them that they no longer have a job?”
“The disabled need choices and help. This takes away both. Shame on you all.”
NAIMES will continue taking signatures indefinitely. The petition is available through www.dmehelp.org.