If you didn’t already read them, this post is a follow up to previous posts about the topic of Medicare (CMS) arbitrarily cutting payments to providers my an effective rate of 9.4 percent. This may seem small but it will be a sginificant amount for smaller, independent dialysis centers and the larger operations like Davita and Fresenius may use it as an excuse to cut one thing or another. The net is we, patients, will suffer for it. See my previous posts at “Dialysis and Action” and “Dialysis and Action (More)“. Those contain links to write letters to your members of Congress. This post goes a step further. And if you don’t know what to say, here’s a post about the CMS proposal that may help. See “Dialysis and Medicare Cuts”
I know it’s intimidating to consider writing a letter to Medicare but, imagine yourself as Paul Revere and the British are Coming! Even if it’s a short note, make a comment about these cuts. Patients are the ones that will suffer!
Formal Comment to CMS
You can also submit a Formal Comment to Medicare/CMS about these cuts. I posted separately on this blog about this because CMS says in their proposal document that it is only interested in suggestions for a “transition or phase-in period” for the cut. However, I believe we can get them to completely stop the proposed cuts if they hear from enough of us. Here’s the information:
How to submit comments on CMS proposal: 1526-P
Comment period closes August 30, 2013.
A copy of the actual proposal is available: http://ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2013-16107_PI.pdf
You may submit comments either electronically or by snail mail (please choose only one of the ways listed):
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on this regulation by CLICKING HERE . Follow the “Submit a comment” instructions.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following address ONLY:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1526-P, P.O. Box 8010, Baltimore, MD 21244-8010.Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period.
3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to the following address ONLY:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1526-P, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
DevonTexas 
Thanks for putting all this info together. I have already written a couple of times and plan to do so a couple more! So unfortunate to have to do this, but it seems to be the nature of the beast, doesn’t it? More involvement is strengthening of one’s self though. I hope folks out there are doing their best to contact the people back in Washington.