Fw: Competitive Bidding

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Diabetes Health Newsletter - 26 January 2006The folowing article comes from:

http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read,1009,4479.html

Competitive Bidding

The Wrong Approach for Diabetes

Baker

January 2006

We would probably all agree that diabetes is anything but a one-size-fits-all

condition. This disease takes its own form in each of our bodies and requires

different levels of care and treatment.

That being said, why is the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

taking steps to create a standardized system of diabetes care through

competitive

bidding?

CMS is pushing to competitively bid blood glucose meters, test strips and

lancets as durable medical equipment (DME). This means that patients using CMS

services would not have access to all the equipment that is available on the

market, but instead to only a select few items. Plus, they may be forced to

change their established routine if their current meter or product is not chosen

in the competitive bidding process.

Competitive Bidding Limits Patient Choice

CMS claims that competitive bidding will

List of 4 items

.. Operationalize and determine appropriate prices for DMEs covered by Medicare

Part B

.. Protect beneficiary access to quality DMEs

.. Reduce the amount Medicare pays for DMEs

.. Reduce beneficiary out-of-pocket expenses

list end

My concern is that this system will limit patient choice, access and services.

Choice in diabetes care is critical. It affects a patient psychologically and

either plays into the feelings of entrapment or freedom related to the

condition.

Limiting choice would only weaken the system and thus damage the already fragile

state of care for the elderly population with diabetes.

My grandmother has diabetes. If she were told, at 82, to change her existing

routine of blood glucose monitoring and learn a new method, I am not sure what

she would do. I do know she wouldn't be comfortable and confident. Comfort and

confidence are critical in chronic disease care, and they are what I wish

for most for my granny.

Companies Will Be Unable to Provide Products and Services

The goal should be to get more people testing their glucose more often. If

competitive bidding for diabetes equipment happens, I fear that will not be the

result.

Another concern is that competitive bidding will impede the services and

innovation within the diabetes manufacturing industry. Companies will not be

able

to afford to create new products, programs and services as they have in the

past. For instance, the educational materials and claim-processing services

offered by many companies may be discontinued. Currently, neither patients nor

Medicare are billed for these services.

These options are vital in managing chronic disease and in reaching the ultimate

goal of reducing healthcare costs by limiting the number of complications.

The diabetes community largely disagrees with the CMS's stance. We feel that

glucose monitoring equipment should not be placed in the same category as

bedpans

and hospital beds.

What Do You Think?

I encourage you to contact your representative in Congress and let him or her

know your thoughts about competitive bidding of diabetes equipment. Then,

encourage him or her to discuss this subject with CMS. It is important for our

government to understand where we, the patients, place value. There has

to be another way of saving money that won't cost diabetes patients quality

care, access and choice.

Dean