Round 2 Pricing Commentary: Seth Johnson, Pride Mobility Products

EXETER, Penn., Feb. 1, 2013—The Round 2 payment rates are shockingly low, unsustainable and the direct result of Medicare ignoring the auction expert’s recommendations and strong communications from providers, beneficiaries and even Congress to fix the fundamentally flawed bidding program prior to implementation. This type of result was predicted by the auction experts due to the fundamentally flawed structure of the Medicare bidding program. This program must be stopped!

Industry stakeholders—providers, consumers, clinicians and manufacturers—must rise up and use the ridiculously low payment rates to further compel Congress to act prior to implementation July 1 to stop the devastation from this program that will otherwise result. I am confident that even those in Congress who believe some payment changes are necessary understand the impact implementing a 45 percent average reduction in five months will have on the industry and beneficiary access to care.

The Round 2 announcement by CMS could well be the shot in the arm Congress needs to take action. Congressional action is really our best and possibly only real option to stop this program. We need to push the Market Pricing Program alternative to correct the fundamental flaws with the Medicare bidding program. We cannot give up our fight for advancing an alternative prior to implementation. The road ahead will not be easy or sometimes clear, but we can and must stop this Medicare program from being implemented. Go online to www.pridemobility.com.