There is a vital need in the wound care industry for well-informed doctors, nurses and other caregivers to advocate for continued patient safety amid new competitive bidding measures. Congress needs to hear your voice. Read on for an update on the competitive bidding process, plus information on how you can push for optimal patient care amid this landmark effort by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

CMS announced in August 2011 that NPWT will be included in round two of its competitive bidding program. This means CMS will award a limited number of suppliers with three-year contracts to serve NPWT Medicare patients. Suppliers will be selected based on the lowest bid for their product and supplies.

Competition is good and can bring greater value to the Medicare program, but care must be taken to protect the lives and health of Medicare beneficiaries. In this case, CMS will be accepting the lowest bids regardless of a provider’s experience, capability or willingness to provide quality, comprehensive NPWT with the essential training and clinical support. This can result in incalculable harm to patients.

The wound care industry at large is focused primarily on ensuring that patient safety will not be compromised in the home care setting under the outcome of the competitive bidding program. A consortium of 16 clinical organizations called The Alliance of Woundcare Stakeholders—along with the Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI), AdvaMed, the American Association for Homecare, members of the House and Senate, and many prominent physicians—has asked CMS to institute quality standards for the NPWT category. This requirement would ensure only competent suppliers can be awarded a Medicare contract, and that these suppliers meet basic quality standards established by the Alliance for Wound Care Stakeholders, which includes clinician groups as well as suppliers such as ConvaTec, Smith and Nephew and KCI. These standards would require that products have basic safety alarms, patient and clinician training is provided, and access to 24/7 clinical and technical support is maintained.

So far, CMS has ignored this request, telling senators and WCEI that it is the responsibility of clinicians to maintain patient safety. While we are staunchly committed to patient safety, we also rely on the training, education and after-hours support of our suppliers to ensure patients safely receive therapy in the home setting. Restricting physician choice of NPWT suppliers and awarding contracts to inexperienced suppliers and/or only the lowest price devices may cause unnecessary risk to our patients, and may result in longer hospital stays. Further, not meeting these industry-advocated standards could lead to serious health consequences.

It is now more important than ever that passionate doctors, nurses and other experienced caregivers raise their voices. Please contact your senator or congressman if you would like to share your concerns on this issue.

How can you help?

Write your Congressional representative. You can find him/her by clicking this link (or here for the Senate).
In the Subject, please include: Competitive Bidding Program
Please ensure you include your city and/or state with your name, so you will be recognized as a valuable voter asking for help to define a policy that will not threaten Medicare patients.

Please also visit Write your Representatives to support Quality Standards for NPWT