Medicare 'Competitive' Bidding Program for Home Medical Equipment Is Plagued by Myths; Economists Warn that the Bid System Will Fail

/PRNewswire/ -- While Medicare paints a glowing picture of the controversial "competitive" bidding program for home medical equipment and services (HME), economists and consumer groups have lined up to oppose the flawed system.

New restrictions and unsustainable prices based on this controversial bidding system are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2011 in nine of the largest metropolitan areas including Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Kansas City, Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh, and Riverside, Calif. Another 91 areas throughout the U.S. will be subjected to the bidding program starting later in 2011. The bidding system affects providers and users of home medical equipment and services such as oxygen therapy, respiratory devices, hospital beds, wheelchairs, and other medically required equipment and supplies needed by seniors and people with disabilities in Medicare.

Proponents of the bidding system have conveyed misleading information that exaggerate the benefits and ignore the severe shortcomings of the program.

MYTH #1: The bidding system improves the method setting reimbursement rates for providers of home medical equipment and services.

REALITY: 166 experts, including two Nobel laureates and numerous economics professors from leading universities, recently warned Congress and regulators that this bidding system will fail. The experts, who do not otherwise oppose competitive bidding to set Medicare prices, point out that the system has four fatal flaws:

* The bidders are not bound by their bids, which undermines the credibility of the process.
* Pricing rules encourage "low-ball bids" that will not allow for a sustainable process or a healthy pool of equipment suppliers.
* The bid design provides "strong incentives to distort bids away from costs."
* There is a lack of transparency in the bid program that is "unacceptable in a government auction and is in sharp contrast to well-run government auctions."


These concerns are not new. They have been shared with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which designed the bidding system. But the agency has dismissed those concerns.

The 166 economists sent letters outlining the flaws in the bidding system to Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and to Representatives Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) and Ralph Hall (R-Tex.) on October 15, 2010, and sent a letter to Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) on September 26. See http://www.cramton.umd.edu/auction-papers.htm.

A September 30, 2010 New York Times' "Freakonomics" article by two of the 166 economists addresses the bidding issue. Yale University economist Ian Ayres and University of Maryland economist Peter Cramton, conclude: "The mystery is why the government has failed over a period of more than ten years to engage auction experts in the design and testing of the Medicare auctions…. We suspect the problem is that CMS initially did not realize that auction expertise was required, and once they spent millions of dollars developing the failed approach, they stuck with it rather than admit that mistakes were made." See: http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/fix-medicares-bizarre-auction-program/

MYTH #2: Medicare overpays for home medical equipment, and the bidding system applies market forces to correct that.

REALITY: Proponents of the bidding system have used out-of-date reimbursement rates and false comparisons of retail costs versus Medicare costs to argue their case. For many years, CMS has set reimbursement rates for home medical equipment through a fee schedule. Over the past decade, those reimbursement rates have dropped nearly 50 percent because of cuts mandated by Congress or imposed by CMS.

The costs of delivering, setting up, maintaining, and servicing medically required equipment in the home are obviously greater than the cost of merely acquiring the equipment. But Medicare does not recognize the costs of these services. So comparing the cost of the equipment to the larger cost of furnishing the full array of required equipment, supplies, and services is false and misleading.

MYTH #3: The bidding program will make healthcare more cost-effective.

REALITY: The home is already the most cost-effective setting for post-acute care. For many years, home medical equipment providers have competed in Medicare on the basis of quality and service to facilitate in the hospital discharge process and enable patients to receive cost-effective, high-quality post-acute care at home. As more people receive quality equipment and services at home, patients and taxpayers will spend less on hospital stays, emergency room visits, and nursing home admissions. Home medical equipment is an important part of the solution to the nation's healthcare funding crisis. Home medical equipment represents less than two percent of total Medicare spending. So while this bidding program would make even more severe cuts to reimbursement rates for home medical equipment, that will ultimately result in much higher spending in Medicare and Medicaid for hospital and nursing home stays and for physician and emergency treatments.

MYTH #4: The bidding program will eliminate fraud in the home medical equipment sector.

REALITY: CMS continues to describe the bidding program as an anti-fraud tool. In reality, it is a price-setting mechanism that has nothing to do with fraud prevention. In fact, the exact opposite is true, according to the 166 market experts who warned Congress in their October 15 letters that the CMS bidding program "will lead to a 'race to the bottom' fostering fraud and corruption."

When explaining on October 14, 2010 why it has missed the deadline for announcing the bid winners, CMS raised concerns about fraud associated with the bidding program. Yet the agency said it will implement the new system on January 1, 2011. The economists' October 15 letter states, "This haste to implement results that raised many red flags with respect to program integrity seems contrary to the public interest and common sense."

The real solution to keeping criminals out of Medicare is better screening, real-time claims audits, and better enforcement mechanisms for Medicare. Two years ago, the American Association for Homecare proposed to Congress an aggressive, 13-point legislative action plan to combat fraud, and many of those provisions have been included in legislation passed in Congress. Moreover, two important anti-fraud requirements – accreditation and surety bonds – took effect more than one year ago, in October 2009.

MYTH #5: Only the home medical equipment sector opposes the bidding system.

REALITY: In addition to the 166 economists and bidding experts who have expressed grave concerns about the bidding program, many consumer and disability organizations have called for a halt to the bidding system. Those groups include the ALS Association, the American Association for Respiratory Care, the American Association of People with Disabilities, COPD/ALERT, the International Ventilator Users Network, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the National Emphysema/COPD Association, the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, and Post-Polio Health International, among others.

These consumer groups support H.R. 3790, a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would eliminate the bidding program in a fiscally responsible manner. That legislation would lower reimbursement rates for durable medical equipment but would allow providers to continue competing to serve Medicare beneficiaries on the basis of service and quality. The bipartisan bill has 257 cosponsors, including more than half of the Democrats and more than half of the Republicans in the House.

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'Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act' Passes U.S. House - Heads to President for Signature

/PRNewswire/ -- Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act" (I-ACT), in a victory for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, its advocates and 120 other health advocacy organizations.

The bill, which passed the Senate Aug. 5, now goes to President Obama's desk for his signature. He is expected to sign it.

This legislation enables patients with rare diseases to participate in clinical trials without losing eligibility for public health care benefits.

Passage of this legislation is particularly important for people with CF, a rare genetic disease. A limited patient population makes it challenging to find enough people to participate in research studies evaluating the effectiveness of promising new drugs.

"Because of this groundbreaking legislation, people with CF and other rare diseases will no longer be forced to choose between critical health care coverage and participation in research that could lead to the development of a cure for our most serious illnesses," said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

We are grateful to our champions in Congress for approving this bill, which will help move new treatments more swiftly from the lab to the patients who need them most."

Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., led the effort to pass the bill in the House. The House version of the legislation, H.R. 2866, has 141 co-sponsors.

"No one should have to choose between participating in a clinical trial and accessing the essential benefits they need. Today's bill will open doors of hope and offer the possibility of better health to those with rare diseases like cystic fibrosis. I am proud to partner with my friend and co-chairman of the Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus, Congressman Cliff Stearns, in the passage of this bi-partisan bill, which now will be signed into law by President Obama. I also want to commend the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for its incredible work on this vital issue. Today represents an important and hopeful milestone in the battle to beat devastating rare diseases that afflict millions of Americans around the country," Markey said.

Added Stearns: "As co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus, I commend my colleagues for approving this legislation allowing people with rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis to participate in life-saving clinical trials that provide nominal compensation without the risk of losing their health care coverage. I also deeply appreciate the work of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in supporting my legislation."

The Senate version of the legislation, S. 1674, was introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., with Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., James Inhofe, R-Okla., Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill., as original co-sponsors. An additional 17 co-sponsors signed on.

Current law prevents many people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from accepting research compensation because it makes them ineligible to receive government medical benefits. This penalty has stopped significant numbers of people with rare diseases from participating in clinical studies.

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House Committee Approves Arthritis Bill

/PRNewswir/ -- The Arthritis Foundation announces a major step in passing bi-partisan arthritis legislation in more than 30 years. The Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act (H.R. 1210/S. 984) was approved today by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and will now go to the House of Representatives to vote on passage.

Bill sponsor U.S. Rep Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) urged the committee leadership to pass the bill in order to address arthritis, a disease that impacts one in five (46 million) Americans and 300,000 children and is the nation's most common cause of disability.

"I'm very proud that my bipartisan legislation has been passed by the Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill will provide states and non-profits the resources they need to tackle this debilitating disorder," Rep. Eshoo said. "It invests in the critical needs of children and adults suffering from arthritis, and in research that will alleviate the costs to future generations of Americans who are diagnosed. I'll continue to fight for this legislation until it's signed into law."

The Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act, when enacted, will better focus federally funded arthritis research, expand and strengthen public health initiatives proven to combat the burden of arthritis, and improve access to pediatric rheumatologists to address the country's severe shortage of these critical health professionals.

"The Arthritis Foundation is comprised of people all across this nation who have worked tirelessly over the past seven years to let Congress know that more needs to be done for people with arthritis," said Dr. John Klippel, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "Our grassroots advocates deserve to be recognized for reaching and successfully communicating this message to the majority of Congress." To date, 179 Representatives have joined as co-sponsors of the bill.

The Arthritis Foundation urges people to show support for this bill by calling their member of congress and becoming an advocate today.

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House, Senate Put Forth Legislation to Renew Funding, Bolster Nation's Bone Marrow and Umbilical Cord Program

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) today applauded the introduction of the "Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010." Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Richard Burr (R-NC), Jack Reed (D-RI), John Ensign (R-NV), and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced the act in the U.S. Senate as S. 3751 on Thursday, Aug. 5. Last evening, Reps. C.W. Bill Young (R-FL) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the companion legislation, (H.R. 6081), in the House. This legislation seeks to reauthorize the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program (National Program) and the National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI). These programs must be reauthorized before the NCBI sunsets.

Last year 12,000 patients searched the national registry, publicly known as the Be The Match Registry®, for a marrow donor or umbilical cord blood unit. Congressional support of the National Program and the NCBI is critical to ensure all patients have access to transplant.

"I am pleased with the introduction of this legislation and continued bipartisan support," said Jeffrey W. Chell, M.D., chief executive officer of the NMDP. "The reauthorization will provide us with the opportunity to continue our efforts to increase the number of adult donors and umbilical cord blood units available through the National Program."

Since its inception in the mid-1980s, the NMDP has operated the National Program awarded via a competitive bid process administered by the Health Services Resources Administration (HSRA). Every day, the National Program helps thousands of patients with leukemia, certain lymphomas, and other life-threatening diseases find a matching donor or umbilical cord blood unit. For many of these patients, a transplant may be the best or only hope for a cure. To date, the NMDP has facilitated more than 40,000 transplants. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the ongoing, sustained support of Congress and its efforts to increase unrelated marrow and cord blood transplants in the United States.

The proposed legislation demonstrates the continued federal commitment to these programs and recognizes the importance of providing patients and physicians with a single point of access to marrow and cord blood units that can be used for transplant. It also addresses the importance of building a diverse registry of marrow donors and cord blood units. Additionally, the legislation includes modifications necessary to continue the successful work of these programs.

The NMDP applauds the hard work and dedication of Congress to produce a bipartisan and fiscally responsible bill that will assist the NMDP in advancing its life-saving mission. The NMDP looks forward to working with Congress, and its network partners in the transplant community including, physicians, cord blood banks, donors, patients, and their families, to gain additional support for continued success of cellular transplantation.

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Lung Cancer Alliance-Georgia Hails Senate Leadership on Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009

/PRNewswire/ -- Today, Lung Cancer Alliance-Georgia (LCA-GA) acknowledged Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) for their leadership and support in establishing the first ever multi-agency, comprehensive program targeted at lung cancer.

Entitled Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009, S.332 authorizes a five year program to reduce the mortality rate of lung cancer which continues to be the number one cause of cancer deaths both nationally and in the state of Georgia. Lung cancer causes more deaths each year than breast, prostate, colon, kidney, melanoma and liver cancers combined.

"Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women. Anything that can be done to increase the parity in funding for this deadly disease will be a significant advance in reducing cancer morbidity and mortality," commented Senator Chambliss. "This legislation is a strong step in the right direction."

"We must make every effort to address lung cancer comprehensively and not overlook the import of earlier detection and better disease management," said Senator Isakson. "This is how we are going to make a difference in lung cancer mortality,"

In thanking the senators for their support, LCA-GA Chair and lung cancer survivor, Ed Levitt said, "Senators Chambliss and Isakson are looked to as leaders on cancer issues and their co-sponsorships of this breakthrough legislation is very significant. We sincerely thank them and look forward to working to continue to improve lung cancer outcomes in Georgia and beyond."

The bill requires the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Defense and Veterans Affairs to combine forces on a comprehensive, coordinated plan of action with funding authorized for five years to accomplish the mortality reduction goal.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is required to review its funding priorities in order to meet the lung cancer mortality reduction goal and more national institutes are called on directly to take part, including the National Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and the National Institute for Environmental Health

To ensure accountability, the bill requires an annual report to Congress and creates an oversight board composed of the three Cabinet Secretaries and representatives from the fields of lung cancer treatment, research and advocacy.

In addition, the bill directs the Secretaries of Department of Defense (DOD) and Veterans' Affairs (VA) to implement an early detection and disease management program for military personnel who are at high risk for lung cancer because of smoking or exposure to carcinogens during active duty.

The bill also:
-- Authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to create a new Lung
Cancer Mortality Reduction drug program with incentives for new
treatments, targeted therapies, vaccines and chemoprevention drugs for
precancerous conditions.
-- Requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to carry out
an early disease research program targeted at the high incidence and
mortality rates among minority and low-income populations.


The bill includes specific authorizations of $75,000,000 for certain NIH agencies in FY10 and authorizes such additional sums as may be necessary for all the cited agencies to accomplish the goal for FY 2010 through FY2014.

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Senate Introduces Bill to Boost Participation in Clinical Trials for Rare Diseases

/PRNewswire-/ -- Four members of the United States Senate introduced legislation today to allow patients with rare diseases to participate in clinical drug studies without losing their eligibility for public healthcare coverage, echoing a move by the House of Representatives last month.

The "Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act" is co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Dodd (D-CT), James Inhofe (R-OK) and Richard Shelby (R-AL).

Researchers who develop drugs to treat rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis often struggle to recruit participants for clinical trials because of limited patient populations. To compound the problem, current law prevents many people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from accepting research compensation because it would make them ineligible to continue receiving government medical benefits. This financial penalty prevents significant numbers of people with rare diseases from participating in clinical studies.

"For many suffering from rare diseases, access to clinical trials is their best hope for treatment," said Senator Wyden. "This legislation will make sure the small financial incentives these people receive will not be counted against them if they are on SSI or Medicaid. Patients suffering from rare diseases should not have to choose between their best hope for treatment or losing benefits, nor be denied the access more financially fortunate patients receive."

"For those living with a rare disease, clinical drug studies can offer a ray of hope: access to cutting-edge medical technologies that may help treat or even cure a serious illness," Senator Dodd said. "Currently, individuals who receive public assistance often do not participate in compensated clinical trials for fear of losing their Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income. This legislation will remedy this inequity by ensuring that more Americans, including those who receive public assistance, have access to these potentially life-saving clinical drug studies."

"This bill allows patients with a rare disease to disregard up to $2,000 of compensation received for participation in a clinical trial in their SSI and Medicaid income calculations," said Senator Inhofe. "Though it will have a negligible impact on the federal budget, it will make a dramatic difference in the lives of those who will gain access to potentially life-saving treatments by enrolling in clinical trials as well as all those in the future whose lives will be improved by the medical advances that arise from this research.

"Scientists and researchers across our nation continually produce new therapies that have the potential to save the lives of countless Americans who suffer from life-threatening rare illnesses," said Senator Shelby. "These patients should not be forced to choose between the health benefits they desperately need and the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial that could improve their medical condition. I am confident that this legislation will open a pathway for more patients to receive life-saving treatments."

Fifty years ago, there were no drugs for people with CF and those with the disease rarely lived to attend elementary school. Today, because of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's focus on innovative and aggressive research, there are more than 30 potential therapies in development, and the median life expectancy is higher than 37 years.

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National Advocacy Organization Representing Home Oxygen Patients Praises Introduction of Medicare Home Oxygen Therapy Act

/PRNewswire/ -- Providing a voice to home oxygen patients nationwide, including patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung diseases, the National Emphysema/COPD Association (NECA) today called the Medicare Home Oxygen Therapy Act of 2009 (H.R. 3220) a patient-focused piece of legislation that protects the best interests of the nation's 1.5 million beneficiaries and promotes quality home oxygen care.

"Home oxygen provides patients with improved quality of life by allowing them to receive oxygen safely in their home, maintain activities of daily living and remain active in their communities. We appreciate that this legislation recognizes the important patient services that oxygen users need to feel secure in their care," said Barbara Rogers, President of NECA. "As a home oxygen user, I fully understand the critical importance of the services that accompany home oxygen care. NECA strongly supports the Medicare Home Oxygen Therapy Act and encourages Congress to adopt this legislation into healthcare reform."

The Medicare Home Oxygen Therapy Act of 2009 establishes a standard set of patient services that all oxygen providers must deliver to beneficiaries, including routine patient evaluations, patient monitoring, equipment training and maintenance and emergency services, all of which play a crucial role in ensuring oxygen users are receiving the medically appropriate level of oxygen that meets their needs and allows them to live safely and comfortably. By ensuring access to these services and important patient safeguards, this legislation recognizes that home oxygen is much more than a piece of oxygen equipment; it is a healthcare service that provides life-supporting oxygen, which enables patients to breathe.

"Without home oxygen, many patients would be housebound or in a long term care facility, so in a sense, home oxygen gives people their lives back by allowing them to maintain their independence," Rogers said. "The average oxygen user in our community is elderly, lives alone, has multiple co-morbidities and fully depends on their home oxygen services to avoid revolving emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations associated with their COPD or other lung condition. Legislation that strengthens our benefit by assuring much-needed patient services and education is good for all home oxygen patients, across the board."

Across the United States, more than 12 million Americans have been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other degenerative lung conditions. COPD is currently the fourth leading cause of death and the second leading cause of disability in the United States, and is on the rise. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, approximately 12 million additional adults are thought to have undiagnosed impaired lung function, which indicates COPD is grossly under diagnosed. As a progressive, incurable disease that causes irreversible loss of lung function, COPD can severely confine patients by limiting their daily living activities. Home oxygen therapy is one of the only effective treatments for these patients when properly used.

"An oxygen benefit that puts the needs of patients first is what our community needs, which is why we support this bill," added Rogers.

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Top 10 Facts About House Democrats' 852-Page Government Takeover of Health Care

House Democrats today (June 19) unveiled their long-awaited health care “reform” legislation, and it’s just what the American people expected: an 852-page bureaucratic nightmare that rations care, raises taxes, and empowers government bureaucrats – not patients and doctors – to make critical medical decisions.

As House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) warned middle-class families and small businesses earlier today, “This plan will make health care more expensive, reduce the quality of care for millions of families and small businesses, cost American jobs, and force untold millions of Americans off their current plans and into a government-run nightmare operated by federal bureaucrats.” As Democrats prepare to defend their government takeover of health care in a series of committee hearings next week, here are the latest Top 10 facts about the House Democrats’ health care proposal:

1. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Cost Middle-Class Families and Small Businesses Billions. Though House Democrats don’t know (or won’t say) how much their government takeover will cost, here’s what we do know: the plan will make health care more expensive and hit the middle class particularly hard with higher taxes, rationed care, and new health care costs. As millions of families and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet while making responsible choices, this plan forces those that make responsible decisions to foot the bill for those who don’t.

2. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Cost Tens of Millions Their Current Health Care Coverage. The House Democrats’ plan could force more than 100 million Americans out of their current health care plan and onto the government rolls, according to a Lewin Group study published earlier this year. A Congressional Budget Office report on a similar plan authored by Senate Democrats that would force at least 23 million Americans off of their current plans. According to the Associated Press, even the White House admits that the President’s promises about allowing the American people to keep their health care shouldn’t be taken literally.

3. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Cost Millions of Americans Their Jobs. The House Democrats’ plan would impose employer mandates and cost jobs by requiring some employers – especially some small businesses – to pay a new eight percent tax to Washington. The plan would also slap employers that are unable to offer coverage the government deems adequate with another new financial burden. These two new taxes will make it more difficult than ever for small business owners to reinvest in their businesses and create and retain good paying jobs. Using the economic model of the President’s own economic advisors, an employer mandate would result in 4.7 million Americans losing their jobs.

4. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Put Bureaucrats in Charge of Key Medical Decisions. Instead of keeping patients and doctors in charge of key medical decisions, the House Democrats’ plan will give Washington the power instead. And if you’re outraged with what Washington’s done with the bailouts, just wait until you see what Uncle Sam does with your health care.

5. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Cost Future Generations Money They Don’t Have. The House Democrats’ bill simply shifts the burden of debt from one generation to the next. Our nation can’t sustain the Medicaid and Medicare programs now. At a time when families and small businesses already are being crushed under the weight of historic debt, a new government-run program will only further add to the bill passed along to our children and grandchildren.

6. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Cost Seniors Key Medicare Benefits and Options. In order to expand health care benefits to some seniors, House Democrats will slash coverage millions of other seniors depend on. These benefit cuts will ultimately eliminate choices for seniors.

7. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Place a New Mandate on Individuals. The House Democrats’ plan mandates that every American buy health insurance or pay a hefty penalty to Washington equal to almost two percent of their income. This would force more Americans into government-run system that will make health care more expensive, ration care, and put bureaucrats in charge of medical decisions.

8. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Raise Taxes on Families, Small Businesses. Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) readily admitted that the Democrats’ health care “reform” plan would be financed with tax hikes. The Associated Press reported that, “Democrats are considering everything from taxing soda, to raising income taxes on upper income people earning more than $200,000, to a federal sales tax.” Exactly how many new taxes will there be to bankroll this government takeover? When do Democrats plan to reveal them?

9. Democrats’ Government Takeover Is a Missed Opportunity To Reduce Health Care Costs. The House Democrats’ plan does not include even a shred of medical liability reform, missing an opportunity to drive down health care costs by reducing costly, unnecessary defensive medicine practiced by doctors trying to protect themselves from trial lawyers.

10. Democrats’ Government Takeover Harms Small Businesses, Costs Jobs. The House Democrats’ plan uses the amount of an employer’s annual payroll to define “small business,” which is troubling news for millions of Americans who depend on these engines of economic growth. Based on the Democrats’ definition of small businesses only those with, on average, less than 10 employees will be spared from new taxes through employer mandates. This leaves a huge number of small businesses to deal with the onerous and expensive mandates of the House Democrats’ government defined health benefit plan (“small businesses” are traditionally defined as employing less than 500 people). These small businesses employ 47.3 million employees and provide those employees $1.7 trillion in wages annually. The House Democrats’ new employer mandate and taxes on these businesses will make it more difficult to retain these jobs and wages.

Rationing care, raising taxes, and putting bureaucrats in charge of key health care decisions is not “reform.” There is a better way. Led by Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and his Health Care Reform Solutions Group, House Republicans have outlined a plan to expand access to affordable, quality care regardless of pre-existing conditions; protect Americans from being forced into a government-run plan, making certain that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not Washington bureaucrats; and let Americans who like their health care coverage keep it, while giving all Americans the freedom to choose the plan that best meets their needs. Will Democrats barrel ahead with their costly government takeover? Or will they heed the President’s words to bring all stakeholders to the table to ensure real health care reform?

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Oncology Care Quality Improvement Program Introduced by Bipartisan Coalition Dedicated to Better Cancer Care Nationwide

/PRNewswire/ -- A bipartisan group of members from the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a bill late yesterday aimed at improving oncology care in the United States by refocusing efforts towards patient-centered cancer care delivery and studying the best methods to coordinate care and extend quality of life. The "Oncology Care Quality Improvement Program of 2009" will establish a voluntary pilot program to identify major areas of potential improvement to oncology care, including error reduction, increased patient education and care coordination, and expansion of end-of-life planning and counseling services.

This groundbreaking oncology legislation, led by U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley (NY-7), has 18 original cosponsors, including lead sponsors Reps. Mike Rogers (MI-08), Lois Capps (CA-23), Anna Eshoo (CA-14) and Paul Ryan (WI-01). The bill has been endorsed by National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF), US Oncology, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO), Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) and UPMC Cancer Centers.

"Fighting cancer is a fight we must win," said Rep. Joseph Crowley (NY-7). "This innovative demonstration project will ensure that patients and doctors have the best tools and information at their disposal. By providing our health care providers with most-up-to date information on best practices, we will ensure cancer patients are given the best and most cost-effective care. I thank Rep. Rogers, Capps, Eshoo and Ryan and colleagues from both sides of the aisle for joining me in leading this fight for oncology patients, doctors and families. We are proud to have the endorsement of the National Patient Advocate Foundation and US Oncology, our partners in working to get this program enacted swiftly."

"Cancer is one of the great health care challenges of our time," said Rep. Mike Rogers (MI-08). "Half of all men and one third of women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives and these figures are expected to skyrocket as the Baby Boom generation ages. That's why I'm proud to join Rep. Crowley to introduce this legislation, which will improve the quality of care for seniors with cancer while also creating a more efficient Medicare system."

"As researchers and clinicians work to improve cancer care in innovative ways, I'm proud to be part of this effort by Congress and CMS to evaluate the innovative use of health information technology in order to improve cancer care overall," said Rep. Lois Capps (CA-23). "The standard for oncology care in the 21st Century is about comprehensive care planning and coordination. By providing incentives to use the newest health information technology tools available, we can assist providers and patients in achieving optimal information sharing on best practices and better coordination among clinicians."

"As we begin to work on health care reform in the House, it's more important than ever that we look at every option available to help increase the quality of care while decreasing the overall cost of health care," said Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-14). "This pilot program gives participating oncology groups the flexibility and incentives necessary to explore cost-saving measures without sacrificing the quality care their patients receive."

"Like most Americans, my family has been personally touched by cancer and personally motivated in our fight against cancer," said Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-01). "I remain committed to doing all that I can to find a cure for this disease, while working to promote innovate and compassionate improvements to oncology care. I am a proud to help introduce the Oncology Care Quality Improvement Program, and thank Rep. Crowley and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working on this important piece of legislation and for their leadership in the fight against cancer."

"Finally, we have a thoughtful, progressive, quality-driven program that achieves patient-centric cancer care delivery, while reducing costs at the same time. It is a win for the patient, the taxpayer and the physician," said Dr. Roy Beveridge, Chief Medical Officer, US Oncology.

National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) continued, "NPAF is pleased to offer its strong support for the Oncology Care Quality Improvement Program of 2009. This legislation calls for adherence to evidence-based guidelines which will reduce variation in care for patients and help physicians make clinical decisions with evidence of proven treatment regimens. In addition, NPAF commends Rep. Crowley for addressing the importance of an adequate medical workforce as well as appropriate reimbursement which are critical in order for education and care coordination to have a meaningful impact on patients and our health care system."

Background on the Oncology Care Quality Improvement Program of 2009:

The oncology care quality improvement (OCQI) program is a cost-saving, voluntary pilot program, to be led by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in consultation with an advisory committee of expert oncology community physician, nurse, patient organizations and industry leaders. The OCQI will evaluate the impact of provider-led approaches to improve care quality and outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries with cancer while creating greater care efficiencies to reduce costs. The OCQI aims to foster evidence-based guideline adherence to minimize variation and reduce errors in care, offers patient education and care coordination services to help patients avoid and/or address common effects of their cancers and treatments, and provides end-of-life planning and counseling services that aims to improve quality of life.

The OCQI will provide payments to participating oncology groups - based on their meeting of defined performance goals as well as per capita expenditure targets created by CMS - to be allocated from half of the program savings generated by the participating group. The other half of the program savings will be retained by the Medicare program.

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