WALLY HERGER: “I appreciate your dedication to creating a high-quality health care system, but I think we have some very fundamental…”

Congress established the competitive bidding program in light of evidence that the Medicare fee schedule payments far exceeded retail rates, leaving the DMEPOS benefit prone to waste, fraud, and abuse.

We ultimately need to bring competition and market forces into the Medicare program in order to reduce costs.

I am very disappointed with the lack of leadership and interest in this issue at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Given the current fiscal issues facing the Medicare program, it is critical that the Committee ensures that taxpayer and beneficiary dollars are being spent appropriately.