Patient Access To Durable Medical Equipment May Be Threatened By Competitive Acquisition Program

Main Category: Medical Devices
Article Date: 25 Mar 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of AdvaMed, released the following statement after an announcement that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had determined winning bid amounts and will be notifying winning suppliers tonight in its competitive acquisition program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS):

"We are concerned that patient access to life-saving, life-enhancing durable medical equipment may be compromised through the DMEPOS competitive acquisition program. Many of Medicare's elderly and disabled patients will lose their current supplier. It is essential that these patients continue to receive high quality care without threatening patient access to important products, which can often mean the difference between a patient being able to remain in their own home or being forced into a nursing home or hospital.

"We urge CMS to postpone expansion of the program to 70 additional areas under Round 2 until it fully evaluates the impact on patient access to the most appropriate treatment. Moreover, this system may discourage investment in new, superior products. AdvaMed continues to advocate for revisions to improve the competitive acquisition program as it is implemented to ensure patient access to the full array of therapeutic options."

BACKGROUND: The first round of this program begins July 1, 2008 in Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas City, Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Riverside, CA and San Juan. P.R. Suppliers that wished to participate in the program submitted bids last year.

AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. Our members produce nearly 90 percent of the health care technology purchased annually in the United States and more than 50 percent purchased annually around the world. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies.

AdvaMed