Medicare Competitive Bidding

[BahaMamamaRN]

Medicare competitive bidding is suppose to start on July 1st 2008.

Are any the case managers here involved in discharge planning? Some of my favorite vendors did not get the contract from Medicare, bummer. I like it now, I call one company and that company takes care of of all DME equipment. With competitive bidding we will have to call several different companies to get the pt's supplies @ d/c time. I guess it will work out we will eventually learn who to call for what. It just seems this will be a little crazy at first.

[dria]

luckily, i don't have to deal with the medicare population...however, since one never knows what is around the corner, i like to keep an ear to the ground...

i am interested in learning the finer points of this...for example, if the patient has several dme needs, are you then required to used the lowest priced vendor for each individual item? i mean c'mon....i understand the need to be a good steward of medicare dollars spent, but otoh, is this the best way to serve the needs of our patients? i can just see it now...."here's the contact info for your oxygen supplier, and here's the # for the company that rents your bed. and here is the number for your...." oh yeah...that's really going to increase compliance...

sheesh!!!