Mark Smith-OH

As a provider of oxygen services and equipment as one of the largest oxygen providers in the state of Ohio with 6 branch locations employing 48 ohioans, We are opposed to the CMS interim final rule to impose competitve bidding for (DME) durable medical equipment. Although our company won a bid for the earlier round one bidding in the Cleveland/Lorain Ohio market last spring, we stand opposed now more than ever due to the flawed outcomes we experienced then. We saw new competitors who won bids who had no experience and no presence or offices in Ohio. Unknown entities were bidding with nothing to lose and everything to gain by such flawed bidding guidelines. In addition, such a plan by CMS would do more to harm services to our Medicare patients that we serve. Competitve Bidding would take away patient choice reduce the quality of care in a very competitve market that exists today while opening the door to inexperienced providers. To eliminate as many as 60% of the hard working small business providers through this flawed bid process would put many more people out of work and in the unemployment roles, not to mention those of us owners forced to close our doors altogether only to give way to some unknown entity that won a bid. CMS has the authority to adjust reimbursement rates to providers and could easily accomplish needed savings based on better data evaluation and processing. Those of us providers will work to stay in business to continue to provide quality patient care and maintain a competitve environment amongst those of us who are seasoned and experienced enough to survive. The CBIC, which is the government bureaucracy established to oversee the bidding process every three years could be eliminated and those costs could be recognized. Thank you for your kind consideration to review my comments and please feel free to contact me if you should have any further questions or comments. Mark Smith Managing Member Med-Ox Home Medical 937-323-5764 marks@med-ox.com