Videos use everyday experiences to explain competitive bidding

In an effort to make the problems caused by competitive bidding more understandable, the organization People for Quality Care is developing a series of videos that explores Medicare’s Competitive Bidding Program through the experiences of ordinary people.

The first of the series is entitled “Bad Service at the Competitive Bidding Café,” and presents a restaurant scene in which a diner receives inferior service. The scene transitions to Angie Plager, People for Quality Care lead advocate, who explains how Medicare’s Competitive Bidding Program is affecting HME users in the same way.

Steven Eilers, project coordinator, said the videos are intended to explain competitive bidding in terms everybody can understand.

“If non-equipment users apply the rules of competitive bidding to everyday life situations, maybe they can understand the severe impact the lack of access to quality equipment and timely service has on Medicare beneficiaries,’’ he said. “We need them to get involved in the fight against competitive bidding to protect their family and friends and their future access to home care.”

The first video is available on YouTube.