Important/Urgent Action - Report to Medicare about Possible Changes

[Diane C]

Hi all,

Below is an important and urgent letter from Jeanine Gleba, the head of UOAA's Advocacy Group. The Centers for Medicare an Medicaid Services (CMS) are considering how to re-classify ostomy products which will have a huge effect on our ability to order the specialized products we may need. PLS read and take action. It takes less than 10 minutes. Below Jeanine's explanation is the email I sent to some doctors, nurses, caregivers, friends, family members, etc. If it would help you to copy it, please do. Note the deadline to take action is 8/29/25 but please don't procrastinate.
Thank you!

Diane C.

From: Jeanine Gleba <advocacy@ostomy.org>
Date: Thu, Jul 24, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Subject: URGENT ACTION NEEDED! Protect Access to Ostomy Supplies!
To: Diane Carroad <Artzfan@gmail.com>

Dear Ostomy Advocates,

We need your immediate help. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a dangerous change: redefining ostomy and urological supplies as "medical equipment items" to include them in the Competitive Bidding Program.

Competitive bidding is a system where suppliers bid to offer the lowest price for Medicare contracts. If applied to ostomy supplies, this means limited choices for you or your patients. Imagine being unable to obtain the correct, prescribed supplies you need to live safely and comfortably.

This proposal will restrict your access, remove your freedom of choice, and jeopardize your ability to effectively manage your ostomy. Learn more in the action alert.

United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) strongly opposes this proposal and will be submitting comments from our national organization. But they need to hear from the patients, beneficiaries, and medical professionals.

Please take action today.

Thank you for helping us protect patients' access to essential ostomy supplies!

Sincerely,

Jeanine Gleba, UOAA Advocacy Manager

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLin ... ttYWIs2NzQ
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Diane Carroad's email to friends, family, doctors, nurses, caregivers, and allies of ostomates:

Hi all,

I know we're all busy and life my have changed under the new Administration.

This email below calls for urgent and important action by patients, ostomy or wound care nurses and others, caregivers, friends, family, doctors, and more to prevent Medicare from changing how people with ostomies (people who wear pouches "or bags") order their products. After reading the below, if you can take the time, PLS click on https://www.ostomy.org/take-action/ If you need help filling the short form out, let me know. It's best if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services receive info in your own words rather than boilerplate language from the national ostomy association or from me but you can get an idea what to write from the next paragraph.

Ostomates need very particular med supplies -- some by certain manufacturers and NOT by others. Our appliances can be complex and different manufacturers create different products that meet our needs. Some patients need bigger pouches (or bags). Some can use tape and some are sensitive or allergic to tape. Some need to wear specialized belts or no belts. Some require filters in pouches while others can't use filters. Some people use "1-piece appliances" while others find it far more helpful to wear "2-piece appliances." What I need to prevent leakage -- a special tape or molding material -- someone else may not need and that person may need specialized products for a hernia or other conditions. All ostomates are different and what they use with their ostomy is rarely the same as every other person with an ostomy. These possible changes below by Medicare would be extremely detrimental for people like me who have ostomies. Without the proper "medical durable goods" -- which are what ostomy products have been classified as for years, our quality of life can be adversely affected or ruined. Life can be challenging enough just wearing the appropriate ostomy appliance.

Jeanine Gleba is in charge of advocacy for the national ostomy group and "on the ball" and effective. She wrote the below.

Thanks very much for helping if you can spare a few minutes. If you know anyone with an ostomy or urostomy, please do forward on.

Diane

[GeorgeS]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Diane! I have sent in my plea.

[Mara]

I have also and today I also got an email from my local NYC ostomy group.....