The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) selected
Elena Armstrong to be the Medicare durable medical equipment,
prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS)
competitive bidding program
ombudsman for the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area. She is one of
eight ombudsmen across the country who will educate physicians,
patients, and others involved in the program and handle
complaints.
CMS says physicians and patients can contact Ms. Armstrong:
- For general information about the DMEPOS competitive bidding
program;
- To obtain assistance in locating a contract supplier;
- For educational programs and activities;
- To report concerns about the program, a supplier, or a
referral agent; the quality of services or items; and/or
suspected fraud or abuse; and
- For assistance with questions, issues, and complaints
specifically pertaining to the competitive bidding program and
policies.
Ms. Armstrong speaks English and Spanish and has more than 20
years of experience with Medicare. Her telephone number is (903)
868-2705, and her e-mail address is
Elena.Armstrong[at]palmettogba[dot]com
.
CMS began the competitive bidding program July 1 in the
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area and the remaining nine largest
metropolitan statistical areas in the country. The program requires
Medicare patients whose physicians prescribe DMEPOS to obtain the
items from a
contracted supplier
in the area, or they might have to pay for it themselves. This
includes common items such as oxygen supplies and equipment,
wheelchairs, walkers, mail-order diabetic supplies, and hospital
beds. CMS plans to expand the program to the Austin-Round
Rock, San Antonio, El Paso, Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown,
Beaumont-Port Arthur, and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission areas sometime
in 2009.
Opponents of the program have filed legal challenges in Dallas,
Washington, D.C., and Cleveland. Meanwhile, 40 senators signed a
letter asking Senate leaders to support legislation that would
delay the program.
CMS also announced that noncontracted suppliers in the
competitive bidding areas should have already notified
permanent residents of the competitive bidding areas whether they
have decided to become
grandfathered
suppliers for each competitively bid item.
Action
, July 1, 2008
Last Updated On
June 14, 2010
Originally Published On
March 23, 2010