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Major Changes for Medicare Patients Coming in 2013

You may have heard that Congress has changed the way Medicare determines who can and can’t furnish certain durable medical equipment and supplies. This new program is known as Competitive Bidding. It's already in place in nine metropolitan areas across the United States and will be implemented in the Buffalo-Niagara metropolitan area in July 2013.

Traditionally, Medicare has contracted with multiple home medical equipment (HME) providers throughout the country. However, the Competitive Bidding program will decrease the number of providers available to supply equipment and services. After July 1, 2013, only suppliers that are awarded a contract can provide equipment and supplies to people with Medicare in the Buffalo-Niagara area.

Pro2 has submitted a bid to become a Medicare contract supplier in the Buffalo-Niagara metropolitan area. Contracts for the Buffalo-Niagara area will not be awarded until the spring of 2013.

Competitive Bidding will affect you as a Medicare recipient in several ways:
-You may be required to change providers if your current provider is not awarded a contract.
-You may be required to use multiple suppliers to obtain the different products or equipment you need.

For more information on how you may be affected by this program, please visit peopleforqualitycare.org.
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