[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9389]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          FLAWS IDENTIFIED IN CMS COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROGRAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, at a time when 
bipartisanship is rare in Washington, this past week a bipartisan 
majority of Members of the United States House of Representatives 
together called upon the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
(CMS) to delay further implementation of the competitive bidding 
program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and 
Supplies.
  A growing number of flaws have been identified in the bidding 
program, which is being used to procure these goods and services for 
those facing life-changing disease and disability. We do not oppose 
competitive bidding. In fact, we want to ensure that true competition 
takes place and Medicare plays by the rules they set for the program.
  Today, I stand beside 226 of my colleagues here in the people's House 
and urge the administrator of CMS to do the right thing and use her 
authority under current law to delay implementation in order to fix 
these abuses before moving forward in 100 areas nationwide on July 1.
  Mr. Speaker, Administrator Tavenner has to know the clock is ticking, 
and if unchecked, the failure of this program will be on her watch.

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