For those of you who use a wheelchair, or know somebody who needs one, Medicare is planning to allow the lowest bidder to provide complex power wheelchairs and seating systems.
We all know what sort of work is produced by the lowest bidder - just look at the embassy in Iraq and the military complex in Germany!
For more information and to express your concerns, follow this link: Complex Rehab
Since I've been diagnosed with MS, I'm much more interested in how our government takes care of the disabled. I'm not disabled, and with any luck I'll never be - but there's lots of people out there who aren't as lucky.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is at it again. They're preparing to allow the Lowest Bidder to provide Complex Power Wheelchairs and Seating Systems!
I am asking for your help to stop a Medicare law that will devastate persons in wheelchairs.
A competitive bidding law was passed that includes complex rehab equipment. On May 9th two reppresentatives introduced an Act that will make the Complex Rehab Equipment exempt from the law. It is imperative to isolate the Complex Rehab Equipment from this law because it allows the lowest bidder to provide a complex seating system or power wheelchair or speech generating device.
This competitive bidding does not take into account any expertise from the vendor or skill level from the vendor let alone, the rapport that the wheelchair bound person may have developed over the years with their vendor. I can tell you from personal experience that some vendors may have "Medicare required credentials" but do not provide adequate equipment, follow-up, or service to their clients.
This competitive bidding is currently being trialed in 10 metropolitan areas across the U.S.! If this is not stopped, a person who requires a wheelchair cannot choose the best or most qualified or even use the same vendor that they have relied on throughout their life for their equipment.
Please go to Complex Rehab for complete background information and to access the tools to get this legislation passed. Click on the TAKE ACTION button to email your Senators and Representative asking for their support of Bill HR-2231. This takes two minutes!
Follow up your email with a phone call to their local offices to get their commitment of support. Most importantly spread the word and get as many others as possible to follow your lead.