Doctor Fights for 1M Ostomy Patients' Medical Supply Access

When Dr. Diego Schaps saw Medicare's new policy on ostomy supplies, he knew a million Americans were about to lose something essential: the ability to choose medical equipment that fits their unique bodies.

Ostomy supplies aren't one-size-fits-all. These specialized pouches and barriers attach to surgically created openings that allow about 1 million Americans to manage bodily waste after lifesaving surgeries. Around 100,000 people receive ostomies every year due to cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or emergency situations.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services decided last November to include ostomy supplies in a competitive bidding program designed to cut costs. The problem? The agency's entire justification rested on a single misleading data point buried in 700 pages of policy documents.

Dr. Schaps, who leads a VA ostomy program and serves on an advocacy committee, reviewed the decision carefully. What he found troubled him deeply. CMS pointed to rising costs for one type of ostomy barrier, from $13 million in 2003 to $37.4 million in 2022, calling it evidence of waste.

The real story behind those numbers tells a different tale. When adjusted for inflation, much of that increase disappears. The rest reflects medical progress, not inefficiency.

More patients are surviving serious illnesses today, often with emergency ostomies that require specialized convex barriers. Obesity rates have risen, creating more complex fitting needs. Medical understanding has improved too, with doctors now using advanced supplies earlier to prevent complications.

Why This Inspires

Dr. Schaps didn't stay quiet when he saw flawed policy threatening real people. He spoke up, joining patients, clinicians, and advocacy groups who flooded CMS with public comments opposing the change. Two congressional letters followed, along with numerous Capitol Hill meetings.

His message has been consistent and clear: when ostomy supplies fit properly, patients live full, independent lives. When they don't, the consequences are severe: leakage, skin breakdown, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. Limiting access won't save money. It will just shift costs downstream while damaging patient dignity.

The surgery resident has witnessed firsthand what happens when patients can't access proper supplies. He's cared for people whose skin broke down not because their condition worsened, but simply because they couldn't maintain a proper seal at home. These preventable complications already occur daily.

Now Dr. Schaps is calling on Congress to act. Since CMS has already finalized the policy, lawmakers need to pass legislation clarifying that ostomy supplies are patient-specific systems, not interchangeable commodities suitable for competitive bidding.

His advocacy highlights something bigger than one policy decision. It shows what happens when medical professionals refuse to let vulnerable patients become invisible in complex healthcare systems. Dr. Schaps is using his expertise and voice to ensure that cost-cutting measures don't come at the expense of human dignity and genuine medical need.

One doctor's determination to speak truth to power is giving hope to a million Americans who just want to live their lives without fear.