Recognizes: (1) the lifesaving role of ostomy care and prosthetics in the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the United States, (2) the necessity of a specialized ostomy nurse to recommend and customize ostomy prostheses, and (3) that a patient undergoing a surgical procedure that results in the patient needing a prosthetic that manages or restores intestinal or urinary system function should have access to individually prescribed, customized prosthetics that will best meet the patient's needs.
Urges: (1) that ostomy products be recognized, categorized, covered, and adequately reimbursed by Medicare in a new payment category of "prosthetic supplies"; and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that HHS programs, policies, and payment practices facilitate innovation of and access to medical devices that restore or improve intestinal or urinary system function of individuals with an ostomy.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 152 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 152
Recognizing the life-saving role of ostomy care and prosthetics in the
daily lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 8, 2011
Mr. Lance (for himself and Mr. Holt) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce,
and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the life-saving role of ostomy care and prosthetics in the
daily lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the United States.
Whereas over 700,000 people in the United States, from young children to senior
citizens, have an ostomy, a surgical procedure that creates an
artificial opening in the abdomen to the intestines or urinary system to
allow for the elimination of bodily wastes;
Whereas an ostomy procedure is essential to many patients who suffer on a daily
basis from Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, birth defects, serious,
chronic, or life-threatening traumatic injury to the abdomen, illnesses
and conditions, such as colorectal or bladder cancer, or other
intestinal or urinary medical conditions;
Whereas active duty military personnel wounded in battle often receive an ostomy
as a result of penetrating colorectal injuries;
Whereas following ostomy surgery, patients need specially selected medical
prosthetics to manage, temporarily or permanently restore intestinal or
urinary system function, re-establish activities of daily living,
improve quality of life; and require access to uniquely skilled ostomy
specialty nurses who recommend and customize ostomy products for
patients;
Whereas ostomy products are prosthetic devices prescribed by health care
providers and meet the definition of prosthetics under the Medicare
program;
Whereas, however, ostomy products are reimbursed under the Medicare program as
medical supplies and not as prosthetics;
Whereas there is a significant inconsistency under the Medicare program between
the coverage category of, and reimbursement policy for, ostomy products;
Whereas the Federal law does not require coverage of prosthetics, including
ostomy products, under the Medicaid program;
Whereas Medicare's inconsistent policy and reimbursement approach to ostomy
products and Medicaid's inadequate coverage and reimbursement for ostomy
products could affect access for patients in need;
Whereas ostomy products are customized to the clinical needs of individual
patients and are not the same as other easily interchangeable medical
supplies such as gauze and bandages;
Whereas Congress previously has recognized the physical, psychological, and
emotional importance of restoring function and improving the quality of
life through supporting access to and coverage of prostheses;
Whereas ongoing advances and innovation in ostomy prosthetics technology can
dramatically improve the lives of those who undergo ostomy surgery by
helping to normalize their intestinal or urinary system function, by
improving physical well-being, and often by enabling them to rejoin the
workforce; and
Whereas House of Representatives recognizes the importance of encouraging and
facilitating the development and use of new medical technologies: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the life-saving role of ostomy care and
prosthetics in the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of
people in the United States and the necessity of a specialized
ostomy nurse to recommend and customize ostomy prosthesis for
the individual;
(2) recognizes if a surgical procedure results in a patient
needing a prosthetic that manages or restores intestinal or
urinary system function--specifically the control of the
elimination of the body's waste products, then such a patient
should have access to individually prescribed, customized
prosthetics that the health care provider believes will best
meet the patient's needs;
(3) urges that ostomy products be recognized, categorized,
covered, and adequately reimbursed by Medicare in a new payment
category of ``prosthetic supplies'' consistent with Medicare's
current recognition of ostomy products as prosthetics in order
to allow appropriate patient access; and
(4) urges the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
ensure that programs, policies, and payment practices of the
Department of Health and Human Services facilitate, and do not
discourage, innovation of and access to medical devices that
restore or improve intestinal or urinary system function of
individuals in the United States with an ostomy.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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