Competitive Bidding


VGM Insurance Offers Bid Bonds

VGM Insurance Services partners with Lexon Insurance Company to help HME providers meet new surety bond requirements for Round 2021.

AAHomecare Underscores Ventilator Concerns

Association meets with White House Domestic Policy Council on CMS’s addition of non-invasive ventilators to Round 2021.

CMS Releases Initial Round 2021 Details

Information released on revised competitive bidding program released includes important dates, bid areas, product categories, and structural changes to the program.

Addition of Ventilators to Bidding a ‘Terrifying Development’

Public statement from AAHomcare’s Tom Ryan says including non-invasive ventilators in Round 2021 will hurt access for patients that ‘critically depend’ on them.

AAHomecare Re-engages with Lawmakers in New Congress

As the new Congress sets its committees of jurisdiction, HME association sets stage for advancing industry’s agenda on Capitol Hill.

strategy

Business Solutions

Setting a Smart Strategy for 2019

Are you setting the right strategy for 2019? This marks our 11th annual survey of the 10 key trends that will impact the home medical equipment industry the most during the New Year. In this year's list, larger healthcare and retail trends could impact HME more than anticipated. As a result, this installment of the Big 10 list is a must-read.

Report: O2 Care Hurting and Bidding Could Be the Cause

A report from the American Thoracic Society calls for further analysis into relation between competitive bidding and problems with oxygen patients’ care.

CMS Extends Deadline for Ventilator Comments

CMS has postponed the deadline to Dec. 17 for public comments on including certain ventilator classes in future rounds of competitive bidding.

NCART: Still Time to Push H.R. 3730

Bill to protect accessories for manual CRT wheelchairs sees new activity on the Hill; advocates could achieve passage before Congress adjourns.

CMS Releases ESRD/DMEPOS Final Rule

Rule is a mixed bag, including some but not all of the additional reforms industry stakeholders had advocated for in public comments and Congressional letters.



House Sign-on Letter Asks for More Relief in CMS’s Proposed Rule

Providers called on to lobby lawmakers to sign a letter asking CMS to expand relief for HME providers in its proposed ESRD/DMEPOS rule.

Providers Urged to Submit Public Comments on ESRD Rule

As Sept. 10 deadline looms, HME associations, advocates remind providers that CMS’s proposed rule offers concrete opportunity to achieve wins for the industry.

Observation Deck

Going the Distance Against Bidding

GAO: Non-Bid Areas Didn’t See Patient Access Problems in 2016

GAO conflicts with various studies, including those involving case managers and discharge planners, as well as CMS’s recently proposed rulemaking.

AAHomecare, VGM Help Providers with ESRD Comments

Groups give providers information, templates and filing guidelines so that they make the Sept. 10 filing deadline for public comments on CMS's proposed rule.

87% of Providers Have Cut Provisioning Manual CRT Accessories

New report: the application of bid-derived reimbursement cuts to accessories has reduced providers’ ability to offer those items.

AAHomecare Releases Public Comments on ESRD Rule

Association catalogs a number of ways CMS can improve DMEPOS policies; urges more providers, stakeholders to submit comments.

VGM Launches Map Tool for Finding Reimbursement Lines

Following CMS's proposed plan for addressing lapses in bid contracts, the online map helps suppliers easily determine where competitive bidding areas begin and end.

Study: Not Investing in HME Costs CMS ‘Significantly’ More

Leitten Medicare Cost Shift study details how repeated cuts to DMEPOS reimbursement are sending patients back to the hospital and costing Medicare Part A as a result.

Forbes Covers CMS’s Bid Reforms

Economic researcher Wayne Winegarden notes bidding’s savings haven’t been sustainable and poor methodologies have caused access problems.

HME Business Podcast