A member has asked me to consider commenting on the Medicare website regarding a proposed rule change that would potentially limit what ostomy supplies would be covered for Medicare reimbursement. The comment website is:
www.regulations.gov/commenton/CMS-2025-0242-0002
I have submitted a comment and I encourage others to do likewise. Deadline for submission is August 29. Just for your information, here is what I submitted:
MEDICARE RULE CHANGE PROPOSAL
IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION that a proposed Medicare rule change would include ostomy equipment in CBP [competitive bidding process] rounds. This would have a major negative impact on thousands and thousands of ostomy patients. Ostomy surgery renders the patient incontinent and totally dependent upon their ostomy supplies to live a ‘normal’ life. Each patient is different, as each ostomy stoma is different, and each patient’s body is different. It is medically crucial that a patient have access to whichever prosthesis device best fits his or her unique surgical circumstance. The prospect of Medicare limiting its coverage pursuant to some non-patient-related or strictly economic standard would have a severely adverse impact that would cause untold physical problems for ostomy patients who desperately need to exercise personal independent choice re the products available from suppliers.
