Congresswoman Duckworth Opposes Prosthetic-limiting Proposed Rule

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) opposing a proposed rule that severely cuts reimbursement rates for amputee treatment and prosthetic devices. Congresswoman Duckworth joined amputee advocates and national prosthetics makers in expressing serious concern over the misguided rule.

The new proposal relies on misleading data analysis to justify making steep cuts to reimbursement rates for prosthetic devices. These cuts would limit the ability of patients to receive the appropriate treatment and benefit from the latest technological advances in prosthetic limbs. The rule would change the process and protocol for receiving lower leg prosthetics. In addition, the rule would allow physicians to make decisions about patients and their prosthetics based on a series of qualifiers rather than a prosthetics expert.

"I strongly oppose the Medicare contractors' proposal to cut prosthetic care costs on the backs of American amputees," said Duckworth. "In its current form, the proposed rule uses inappropriate data to justify severelyrestricting access to the most effective treatments and prosthetic devices. This rule threatens to make life more difficult for amputees. It places bureaucratic cost concerns over the health and well-being of patients. It is unacceptable. The Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should take decisive action to direct its contractors to withdraw the flawed proposal. Providers across the country look to Medicare reimbursement rates and rules when developing their own prosthetic care policies. If this rule were finalized and health care providers across the nation followed suit, innovative companies might be forced to cease research and development on advanced prosthetics devices. Worst of all, millions of amputees would be denied access to the services and devices that best meet their individual medical needs. American innovation is allowing hundreds of thousands of amputees to live fuller lives. The Federal Government should be investing in, and supporting these exciting initiatives. This proposal fails that test."

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