NACDS Urges House And Senate To Reject Durable Medical Equipment Competitive Bidding Proposals To Help Ensure Patient Access To Pharmacy

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 27 May 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) submitted comments to key members of the House and Senate requesting they reject any proposals that would expand the durable medical equipment (DME) competitive bidding program to diabetic supplies sold at retail pharmacies or seek cuts and/or freeze to the DME fee schedule updates.

"NACDS member companies are the primary providers of pharmacy services to beneficiaries with diabetes under the Medicare program," the letter states. "Treatment of diabetes requires very careful management of blood glucose and pharmacists serve on a team with doctors, patients and diabetes educators to help patients manage their diabetes. Unlike other DME products, the effects of the competitive bidding program on diabetic supplies and patients were never evaluated during the competitive bidding demonstration projects. Therefore, expansion of the program to include diabetic supplies sold at retail stores should not be pursued, in the absence of any data to ensure patient access, safety and savings to the Medicare program."

In addition, NACDS urged the Committee to recognize that DME fee schedules have not been updated since 2004 to properly reflect the cost of providing DME products and services.

"Despite inflation and increased costs in providing these services, some have proposed that the DME fee schedule be cut or the fee updates remain frozen as an offset for a delay of the competitive bidding program or as a pay-for for other initiatives under consideration. We are deeply troubled by such a proposal as any cut and/or freeze to the DME fee schedule update will create significant confusion, frustration, and access problems for Medicare beneficiaries and their healthcare providers."

National Association of Chain Drug Stores