Pittsburgh medical suppliers are objecting to new Medicare rules that limit access to medical supplies by instituting a competitive bidding program to cut costs, according to a Pittsburgh Live report.
Since the program began in January, only 25 of the 168 companies in the seven-county Pittsburgh region have been awarded Medicare contracts to sell items in the program's nine categories, according to the report. Thirty-four companies that received contracts are from outside Pennsylvania, posing a potential threat to local companies and patients who need immediate access to supplies.
Concerns about the program last week prompted United States Reps. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless) and Glenn Thompson (R-Centre County) to introduce the Fairness in Medicare Bidding Act, legislation that would repeal the program.
According to the report, a spokesman from the American Association for Homecare said it has received more than 250 complaints about the program, including nearly 200 complaints from residents. Lorraine Ryan, a Medicare spokeswoman, said the program will not restrict access to supplies and said Medicare officials have received no complaints.
Read the Pittsburgh Live report on competitive bidding programs.
Read more on medical supplies:
-Healthcare Packaging Market Value Predicted to Reach $87.3B by 2011
-17 Healthcare Organizations in Mississippi and Louisiana Form GPO
Since the program began in January, only 25 of the 168 companies in the seven-county Pittsburgh region have been awarded Medicare contracts to sell items in the program's nine categories, according to the report. Thirty-four companies that received contracts are from outside Pennsylvania, posing a potential threat to local companies and patients who need immediate access to supplies.
Concerns about the program last week prompted United States Reps. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless) and Glenn Thompson (R-Centre County) to introduce the Fairness in Medicare Bidding Act, legislation that would repeal the program.
According to the report, a spokesman from the American Association for Homecare said it has received more than 250 complaints about the program, including nearly 200 complaints from residents. Lorraine Ryan, a Medicare spokeswoman, said the program will not restrict access to supplies and said Medicare officials have received no complaints.
Read the Pittsburgh Live report on competitive bidding programs.
Read more on medical supplies:
-Healthcare Packaging Market Value Predicted to Reach $87.3B by 2011
-17 Healthcare Organizations in Mississippi and Louisiana Form GPO