Directions Canada

WHO WINS WITH BLIND BIDDING?

Written by: WRITTEN BY MICHELLE HARVEY, BSC HONS OT, RRTS®

We explored the blind bidding topic from the perspective of clients, therapists and vendors who have all experienced blind bidding in their provinces with different funders and for different equipment.

We interviewed all three parties, and we asked them the same three questions:

1. Do you believe blind bidding works, and why or why not?

2. Do you feel blind bidding allowed you or your client to receive the equipment and service they needed?

3. Do you believe blind bidding should continue in certain provinces or with certain funders?

Blind bidding has been a topic of discussion in Canada for well over a decade. It is very prevalent in some provinces and almost extinct in others.

Different funders have maintained the practice of blind bidding, where others have tried and failed.

The following interview with Eli Paradis, RRTS® Regional Sales Manager, HME Home Health, British Columbia, is the second in a three-part article series and represents the vendor’s perspective. You can read the first interview in Directions 2024v1.

QUESTION 1. DO YOU BELIEVE BLIND BIDDING WORKS AND WHY OR WHY NOT?

Given the complex nature of the assessment process for equipment in our industry, I feel blind bidding doesn’t promote best practice. It’s not client focused and doesn’t take into consideration the nuances of the equipment being quoted.

Furthermore, blind bidding reduces the important relationship of an iNRRTS Registrant (RRTS®/CRTS®) with the therapist and the family. Blind bidding is trying to force what should be a custom process with the client into a generic process that does not serve the end-user well.

QUESTION 2. DO YOU FEEL BLIND BIDDING ALLOWED YOU OR YOUR CLIENT TO RECEIVE THE EQUIPMENT AND SERVICE THEY NEEDED? WHY?

No. By reducing the relationship into a form-based process, the enduser loses the specialized knowledge gained over time by an iNRRTS Registrant (RRTS®/CRTS®) Over time, iNRRTS Registrants learn clients’ needs and work with family as part of a medical team. Blind bidding allows the client to receive the intended equipment, but not with the same care and attention that a dedicated provider would offer, if they were involved from assessment to delivery.

Service may lack, and blind bidding removes the consideration of the clients’ personal preference on who they are comfortable working alongside.

QUESTION 3. DO YOU BELIEVE BLIND BIDDING SHOULD CONTINUE IN CERTAIN PROVINCES OR WITH CERTAIN FUNDERS?

I believe blind bidding should not continue regardless of province or funder. Best practice encourages collaboration between the vendor, client and therapist. Collaboration allows the best choice of equipment and sets us up for the final delivery.

If we change the practice and clients were allowed time to select their preferred vendor at the start and all three vendors agreed to use published MSRP, would that not offer the client choice and best economical value for the funder?

CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Michelle may be reached at MICHELLE.HARVEY@HMEBC.COM

Michelle Harvey, BSC HONS OT, RRTS®, is vice president of sales and product for HME Home Health. Harvey is a iNRRTS Canadian Review Chair, serves on the Canadian Advisory Committee and became a iNRRTS Registrant in July 2021.