Medicare cost pilot program for goods and services

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have announced plans to expand the controversial competitive bidding program for medical devices which has to this point been a pilot project. The New York Times reports: The experiment represented a sharp break from the usual fee-for-service Medicare program, under which beneficiaries can choose any supplier or provider of goods and services. In the experiment, Medicare officials invited bids and awarded contracts to 356 suppliers of medical equipment…