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Patients, nurses urge passage of H4162 to expand access to ostomy supplies
Summary
Patients, ostomy nurses and advocates told a Massachusetts legislative hearing that insurance limits, nonmedical product switching and narrow supplier practices leave ostomy patients without medically necessary supplies and urged the committee to favorably report H4162.
Testifiers at a Massachusetts legislative hearing urged lawmakers to pass H4162 to ensure consistent access to ostomy supplies that patients and clinicians say are medically necessary.
Supporters said inadequate insurance coverage, surprise product substitutions by suppliers and administrative delays force patients to reuse supplies, buy replacements out of pocket, or seek emergency care. They asked the committee to favorably report House Bill 4162 to require more reliable coverage and supply processes.
The issue matters because ostomy appliances are used continuously to replace internal bodily functions and, when supplies fail, patients can suffer skin breakdown, infection, hospitalization and severe limits on daily activity. Advocates said current coverage practices threaten dignity and drive avoidable health care costs.
Martha Bernstetter, a certified wound, ostomy and continence nurse at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,…
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