Round two, in which the program is set to be implemented in 91 areas nationwide, has been delayed for six months, until the summer of 2013. The competitive bidding program has already gone into effect in nine metropolitan statistical areas, including the Pittsburgh, Pa. region.
Congressmen Altmire and Thompson have recently introduced the Fairness in Medicare Bidding Act (H.R. 1041), which would fully repeal the competitive bidding program at no cost to taxpayers.
The Congressmen expressed their concerns that the competitive bidding program would push small businesses out of the marketplace and diminish seniors’ quality of care.
“CMS’s decision to delay round two of the competitive bidding program shows that even it acknowledges that this program is seriously flawed,” said Congressman Altmire in the news release. “The truth is that no matter how CMS tries to tweak its competitive bidding program, it will continue to be a fundamentally bad deal for our nation’s seniors and small businesses. I will continue working in Congress to repeal this program and protect seniors’ access to the quality care that they deserve.”
Read the news release about the delay of the CMS competitive bidding program.
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