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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) sent a letter yesterday to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Michael Leavitt urging that he delay new Medicare reimbursement plans set to take effect on November 15th that would limit reimbursement for the purchase of wheelchairs and other power mobility devices.
The two New Jersey lawmakers recommended that HHS listen to the concerns of seniors and manufacturers to establish an efficient and equitable payment system that preserves beneficiaries' access to power mobility devices.
Under the current reimbursement plan, Medicare beneficiaries are charged 20-percent for the purchase of these devices, which can cost anywhere from $17,000 to $20,000, while Medicare reimburses the other 80-percent. A copy of the letter follows.
October 24, 2006
The Honorable Michael Leavitt
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Secretary Leavitt,
We are writing to urge delay in implementation of the fee schedule for power mobility devices (PMDs) that will take effect November 15, 2006. We recognize that there is significant need to reform the current payment system in order to curb fraud and abuse, and to slow the growing rate of significant expenditures. While we greatly appreciate your efforts to accomplish these goals, we are concerned that the new fee schedule could be overly restrictive and compromise beneficiaries' access to these items.
Since the new fee schedule was published on October 2, 2006, we have heard from many of our constituents who manufacture and supply power mobility devices, as well as beneficiaries themselves. They fear the reductions in payment rates will increase the likelihood that Medicare beneficiaries will not have access to PMDs that are medically appropriate, especially given that suppliers are expected to incur additional costs from the new requirements for coverage, documentation, and quality standards for mobility providers.
Given these concerns, we urge you to temporarily postpone the November 15, 2006, implementation date for the new fee schedule and work with mobility stakeholders to establish an efficient and equitable payment system that preserves beneficiaries' access to power mobility devices.
Thank you for your prompt attention to these important issues. We look forward to your quick and thorough response.
Sincerely,
FRANK PALLONE, JR. RUSH HOLT
Member of Congress Member of Congress |
