FL

CMS's proposed competitive bidding program for DME providers would serve to put a large majority of DME providers out of business and thereby significantly reduce the levels of service to our Medicare recipients. This is a non-solution in today's recessionary environment. CMS's stated concerns are to reduce Medicare expenses while reducing fraudulant activities by DME providers. These govals can be acheived in a manner which does not produce such negative effects. Reductions in Medicare's reimbursement schedules would serve to produce the cost reductions that Medicare seeks. Increased policing and enforcement of current laws and policy is required and must occur in order to reduce or eliminate fraudulant activities by some DME providers. These enhancements can be made by CMS allowing stated goals to be met without destroying an high level of service required by those Medicare beneficiaries that desparately require these services.