Medicare testing ground: Lower prices, rising concerns
The Inland Empire is a new testing ground for whether the federal government and health consumers can finally do something about rising health costs. Medicare is rolling out a new competitive bidding program that it says will reduce the costs of certain medical equipment by 30 percent or more. Yet what would seem to be a classic, all-American way to deal with pricing – through competition – and with happy winners – taxpayers and Medicare recipients -- turns out not to be that simple. We dive into the debate over the program.
The Inland Empire is a new testing ground for whether the federal government and health consumers can finally do something about rising health costs. Medicare is rolling out a new competitive bidding program that it says will reduce the costs of certain medical equipment by 30 percent or more. Yet what would seem to be a classic, all-American way to deal with pricing – through competition – and with happy winners – taxpayers and Medicare recipients -- turns out not to be that simple. We dive into the debate over the program.
The Inland Empire is about to become a national testing ground for whether the federal government, and health consumers, can finally do something about rising health costs. Starting Jan. 1, a new Medicare program will slash by 30 percent the prices it will pay for certain wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators and other medical devices in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, lowering costs for both local Medicare recipients and the American taxpayer.
In the new age of Medicare, Esta Willman would seem like a winner.
The small medical supply firm she co-owns with her husband just won two prized contracts to provide oxygen and power wheelchairs to Inland Empire seniors.
Medicare's attempt to control costs by choosing its medical equipment vendors through competitive bidding has come under criticism by some Inland Empire members of Congress.
Several of the Inland Empire's representatives have signed on to support House Bill 3790, which would repeal the competitive bidding program.
ancho Cucamonga resident Lois Mitchell says she knows virtually nothing about a new Medicare program that could save her money on expensive medical supplies for her mother.
"I don't know how this new thing will help," Mitchell said about a program based on competitive bidding that's set to roll out Jan. 1. "There's so much I'm trying to understand that's being thrown at me."
Among those spreading the word about Medicare's new competitive bidding program is the Riverside-based nonprofit Inland Agency.
With the help of state grant money, Inland Agency provides the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, or HICAP, to Medicare beneficiaries living in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo and Mono counties.
Signaling a massive effort to cut Medicare costs, Medicare officials on Wednesday issued the names of nearly 70 companies selected to provide medical equipment throughout the Inland Empire.
KQED's Health Dialogues featured The Center's story on a new Medicare program that will slash prices on certain wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators and other medical devices. Multimedia reporter Lauren Whaley joined senior writer Deborah Schoch as well as reporters from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and the San Bernardino Sun.
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