Representative Carolyn McCarthy, RN (D-NY4), has introduced legislation in the US House of Representatives on behalf of the Pedorthic Footwear Association (PFA) to remove Medicare's Therapeutic Shoes for Persons with Diabetes benefit (TSD) from the competitive bidding requirements for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies.
McCarthy, a longtime pedorthic advocate, and the PFA worked together to craft HR 5331 to respond to the pedorthic professions concerns about the impact competitive bidding will have on the quality of the medical products and materials being used to treat Medicares diabetic patients qualified for TSD.
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 placed the entire TSD benefit in the O&P category, which is subjected to competitive bidding under the act. Competitive bidding is slated to start in ten of the largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) in 2007 and to be implemented in 80 of the largest MSAs by 2009. In the interim, TSD reimbursable amounts will be calculated on a new fee schedule for O&P beginning on January 1, 2005. With the passage of the legislation in December 2003, the TSD's non-fee schedule reimbursable amounts were frozen at 2003 rates.
HR 5331 was referred after introduction to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Ways and Means Committee. In the coming weeks, PFA will launch a grassroots effort with its membership to increase awareness of this important piece of legislation, add to the number of House co-sponsors of the bill, and begin the drive for the introduction of a Senate companion bill, the PFA said.
For more information, visit the PFA website:www.pedorthics.org
