Pride Calls for Investigation in Riverside CBA

EXETER, Pa.–A statement issued Thursday by Pride Mobility
Products Corp. said the manufacturer has uncovered potential
problems in the Riverside, Calif., competitive bidding area and
calls on Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael
Leavitt to launch a full investigation into the matter.

According to the statement, Pride has received reports that 18
of the winning standard power wheelchair category bidders in the
CBA all had price, product supplier and consultant in common.

“This information has been corroborated to us by multiple
sources,” Pride Chairman and CEO Scott Meuser wrote in a
letter to Leavitt. Meuser urged the HHS head to act quickly, saying
“this is an important matter that requires immediate action
in light of the short timeframe that exists prior to implementation
of the program on July 1, 2008.”

According to CMS, 19 contracts for standard PWCs, scooters and
accessories were offered in the Riverside CBA. CMS data also
indicates winning bids in that bidding area were 50 to 70 percent
lower than current the Medicare allowable versus the national
average of 25 percent, Pride said.

“The information further supports the notion that the
integrity of the process may have been compromised,” Pride
said, adding this “strongly suggests the need for a delay so
that the competitive bidding process can be fully and properly
evaluated prior to implementation.”

To view a chart of CMS’ contract offers in round one,
click here.

To view CMS’ round one single payment amount charts by product
category,
click here.