Hands Off Our Medical Supply Brands ! 10-16-26

I think I've told you about the trip to the DDNC, if you've followed this podcast long enough.

You know I went to Washington last year in, uh, March of twenty twenty-five.

And though this wasn't one of the acts that we actually rallied for, uh, or advocated for, this one is worth noting because on October ninth, last Friday, according to Janine Gleba, the advocacy manager who I've mentioned many times before, Bill H.R. one zero seven eight seven, the Access to Medical Supplies Act, was introduced to Congress by Greg Murphy, a Republican in North Carolina, and Representative Brad Schneider, rep from Illinois, Democrat from Illinois.

So I'm telling you here at the One Leg Up Alex Media Center, the Access to Medical Supplies Act is necessary because it provides a practical path forward to address the concerns central to our advocacy efforts for the CMS ruling that includes ostomy supplies in Medicare's competitive bidd-bidding system.

Rather than c-permanently exempting ostomy and urological supplies from competitive bidding, the legislation would argue, or would provide a five-year delay on competitive bidding for ostomy and urological supplies.

As I mentioned before, and actually I was talking to a friend of mine, Sherri, the other night, that if we allow our supplies to be up for bid, meaning a doctor or a pa-- You know, a doctor can say, "Well, we can't take this supply company, but we'll give you this one." It is an adjustment, and it's an unnerving one because people are very comfortable with the supplies that they have and the companies they use.

So this would provide a five-year delay on competitive bidding for ostomy and urological supplies from January one, twenty twenty-eight through December thirty-one, twenty thirty-two.

This bill also establishes a technical expert panel, meaning patients, caregivers, clinicians, reimbursement experts, suppliers, and manufacturers evaluate the impact of competitive bidding and recommend appropriate safeguards.

CMS is to conduct a limited demonstration in no more than three states over twelve months to assess the effects of competitive bidding on beneficiary access and health cl- outcomes before broader implementation.

And most importantly, protect patient access and product choice.

We should be able to choose the brand we want, the product we want, and that's a comfort level thing.

I think especially for those with ostomies and catheters, a comfort level thing I know personally for sure.

It's just amazing.

I was talking about this at dinner the other night, and I was explaining exactly this.

And now there's a bill that was introduced a week ago.

ESP anybody? I don't know.

But the perect-- the protect patient access and product choice by establishing safeguards to ensure beneficiaries can obtain the same or clinically compa-parable products they need by prohibiting contract suppliers from pressuring beneficiaries to switch brands.

Switching brands would be detrimental.

I remember going to Senator Booker's office, and even Senator Schumer's office, and holding up my Convatec ostomy and saying, "This ostomy is my comfort." Like, I need this ostomy.

I do not wanna switch brands.

I don't wanna have to switch brands because my supplier isn't covered by my doctor.

Like, that would not be good.

And if I'm saying that, a million Americans are gonna be affected too.

So if you're listening to this, A-Adapting with Alex Garrett or One Leg Up Alex Media, join us and take action because Janine writes, "We need to get as many co-sponsors as possible." Hands off our medical supplies is the message of this one.

We need to get as many co-sponsors as possible.

I think I've told you about the trip to the DDNC, if you've followed this podcast long enough.

You know I went to Washington last year in, uh, March of twenty twenty-five.

And though this wasn't one of the acts that we actually rallied for, uh, or advocated for, this one is worth noting because on October ninth, last Friday, according to Janine Gleba, the advocacy manager who I've mentioned many times before, Bill H.R. one zero seven eight seven, the Access to Medical Supplies Act, was introduced to Congress by Greg Murphy, a Republican in North Carolina, and Representative Brad Schneider, rep from Illinois, Democrat from Illinois.

So I'm telling you here at the One Leg Up Alex Media Center, the Access to Medical Supplies Act is necessary because it provides a practical path forward to address the concerns central to our advocacy efforts for the CMS ruling that includes ostomy supplies in Medicare's competitive bidd-bidding system.

Rather than c-permanently exempting ostomy and urological supplies from competitive bidding, the legislation would argue, or would provide a five-year delay on competitive bidding for ostomy and urological supplies.

As I mentioned before, and actually I was talking to a friend of mine, Sherri, the other night, that if we allow our supplies to be up for bid, meaning a doctor or a pa-- You know, a doctor can say, "Well, we can't take this supply company, but we'll give you this one." It is an adjustment, and it's an unnerving one because people are very comfortable with the supplies that they have and the companies they use.

So this would provide a five-year delay on competitive bidding for ostomy and urological supplies from January one, twenty twenty-eight through December thirty-one, twenty thirty-two.

This bill also establishes a technical expert panel, meaning patients, caregivers, clinicians, reimbursement experts, suppliers, and manufacturers evaluate the impact of competitive bidding and recommend appropriate safeguards.

CMS is to conduct a limited demonstration in no more than three states over twelve months to assess the effects of competitive bidding on beneficiary access and health cl- outcomes before broader implementation.

And most importantly, protect patient access and product choice.

We should be able to choose the brand we want, the product we want, and that's a comfort level thing.

I think especially for those with ostomies and catheters, a comfort level thing I know personally for sure.

It's just amazing.

I was talking about this at dinner the other night, and I was explaining exactly this.

And now there's a bill that was introduced a week ago.

ESP anybody? I don't know.

But the perect-- the protect patient access and product choice by establishing safeguards to ensure beneficiaries can obtain the same or clinically compa-parable products they need by prohibiting contract suppliers from pressuring beneficiaries to switch brands.

Switching brands would be detrimental.

I remember going to Senator Booker's office, and even Senator Schumer's office, and holding up my Convatec ostomy and saying, "This ostomy is my comfort." Like, I need this ostomy.

I do not wanna switch brands.

I don't wanna have to switch brands because my supplier isn't covered by my doctor.

Like, that would not be good.

And if I'm saying that, a million Americans are gonna be affected too.

So if you're listening to this, A-Adapting with Alex Garrett or One Leg Up Alex Media, join us and take action because Janine writes, "We need to get as many co-sponsors as possible." Hands off our medical supplies is the message of this one.

We need to get as many co-sponsors as possible.