Many of us with a neurogenic bladder, including those of us with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, and other conditions, may require the use of a catheter in order to empty our bladders. Currently, there are approximately 1,300 types of catheters available in the marketplace.  That gives us a good degree of choice and variety in selecting the catheter that is right for us.  It can take years for us to find a product that works best for us, especially one that helps prevent health complications such as UTIs. Similarly, for those of us with an ostomy or a tracheostomy, being able to get the supplies that best meet our individual needs is essential to ensure that we remain healthy and free of infections.

Unfortunately, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed a new rule that would bring catheters, ostomy and tracheostomy supplies under a program called competitive bidding. This could artificially shrink the number of suppliers of catheters to seven for the whole country, likely resulting in many smaller suppliers going out of business and many products people rely on disappearing from the supply chain. Ostomy and tracheostomy supplies would face similar fates.

Two members of Congress, Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Dan Meuser (R-PA), are leading an effort to stop CMS’s wrong-headed proposal. They have drafted a letter to CMS urging the agency not to move forward with its proposal to expand competitive bidding to include urological, ostomy and tracheostomy supplies.  They welcome other members of Congress to sign onto their letter.

Please join us in urging your member of Congress to sign on to this letter today!