Letter to the editor: Medicare cost-cutting plan could jeopardize patient health
Letter to the Editor by Madonna Long, The Washington Times, May 19, 2026
After relying on catheters for more than 40 years following a spinal cord injury, Madonna Long shares why access to the right urological supplies is essential to maintaining her health and independence. In a letter to the editor published by The Washington Times, she explains how finding the right products required close collaboration with her physician and medical equipment provider.
Long raises concerns about CMS' proposal to expand Medicare's Competitive Bidding Program to include urological and ostomy supplies, arguing that limiting contracts to a small number of suppliers could force patients to change products regardless of their individual medical needs. She emphasizes that these supplies are not interchangeable and that restricting access could lead to increased infections, complications, and hospitalizations.
Drawing on both her experience as a patient and a medical supply provider, Long urges CMS and Congress to protect patient access to the products and providers that support safe, independent living.