This is a FAQ entry. See the main FAQ index for others. See also the related entry on premium support.
Here’s a list of some posts on competitive bidding, a.k.a. “competitive pricing”. There are others.
- The world’s simplest explanation of competitive bidding
- The world’s most complex competitive bidding-related idea (not really, but it is complicated)
- Is competitive bidding a natural right-left compromise for Medicare plan subsidies?
- Competitive bidding is part of managed competition
- How is the Ryan/GOP Medicare voucher plan like and not like other, federal subsidized health insurance programs? [chart]
- We don’t have to impoverish the elderly to save Medicare [chart]
- Competitive bidding, simulated [charts]
- How I convinced Aaron of the virtues of competitive bidding (related)
- How competitive bidding is and is not like current Medicare
- Another roundup of competitive bidding-related posts
- Competitive bidding for Medicare-covered durable medical equipment
- Why traditional Medicare might thrive in a competitive program
- A podcast on competitive bidding
by Bret@respiracare on December 17th, 2011 at 22:22
There is so much that can be done to curb spending and not destroy choice in the industry. There remain areas that are abused and exploited and need reform but the problem is our lawmakers tend to throw the baby out with the bath water, Instead of targeting insane advertising campaigns by cherry picking dealers, pushing everything from diabetic supplies, catheters, impotence devices and motorized wheelchairs, they go after grandma’s local and often rural full service medical equipment supplier with over regulation and unfair competitive bidding advantages. They subsidize insurance companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana and United Healthcare through Medicare Advantage plans that then exclude local independent often rural providers from participation leaving the patient with no choice. They should allow the independent provider who has met all state and federal requirements including accreditation, bonding and licensure the opportunity to work under the new system as a participating provider willing to accept the negotiated competitive bid rates and tell the insurance companies who are subsidized by tax dollars they must accept any willing Medicare provider into their networks. Otherwise there will be no choice remaining in this industry and no great American dream for many honest hardworking independent providers.