Congressman Tom Price (R-Ga.) says he will make good on his promise to reverse the competitive Medicare bidding system for home health care equipment. Price says he will do this through the reintroduction of the Market Pricing Program for durable medical equipment to counter the competitive bidding system that has since gone into effect.
The congressman will reintroduce the MPP legislation in the 113th session of Congress, he told the American Association for Homecare, and will seek a senior Democratic House member as co-lead on the legislation.
Price indicated the legislation will remain budget neutral and will be similar to a past bill, H.R. 6490, which gained 94 cosponsors but did not pass as of the closing of the 112th Congressional session.
Home care advocates have noted concern regarding the competitive bidding system, which aims to make the process for obtaining medical equipment more efficient, but has led to reported confusion in some of the markets where it has gone into effect.
The MPP legislation is expected to be introduced in January.
Written by Elizabeth Ecker