Competitive Bidding


More Medicare Patients Paying Up Front

In a 'no-win scenario,' beneficiaries wind up paying out of pocket for needed HME while some providers file non-assigned claims.

DMEPOS Access Down After Bidding

GAO report shows number of DMEPOS beneficiaries covered by bidding declined after Round Two implementation.

Study: Competitive Bidding Unsustainable

AAHomecare-backed research shows Medicare reimbursement rates for HME cover only 88% of overall costs for businesses providing equipment and relates services.

Bidding Fight Shifts to Lame Duck Strategy

AAHomecare, advocates focus legislative efforts on Congressional session beginning after November elections.

Observation Deck

Bidding's Ripple Effect

Competitive bidding-derived rates are reverberating across more payers.

Future of HME

Business Solutions

Paving HME's Path

Each fall we turn to the members of HMEB's editorial advisory board to gain their insights into the trends, obstacles, challenges and opportunities that providers should consider as they shape their business strategies for the next several months. This year, many of the board members are telling us that the future will likely be what providers make of it.

Editor's Note

Reaching Critical Mass

Has the industry finally hit the point where it simply can't deal with Medicare?

Las Vegas Review-Journal Calls for Rural Relief

Industry’s media outreach efforts to reform bid expansion continue to have increased high-profile payoff in the headlines.

Congress Leaves Hill with Bid Reform Unresolved

As lawmakers focus on election season, national bid expansion continues to impact rural providers, patients; HME advocates set sights on lame duck session.

Industry Outreach Extending to Lawmakers, Media

HME advocates work to communicate need for bidding reform on both Capitol Hill, as well as with various news outlets.



AAHomecare Calls for Case Manager Stories

Association is collecting accounts from discharge planners, case managers, social workers on patients’ difficulties getting DME.

Major Hospital Slams Bidding in Comments to CMS

University of California Health System urges CMS to re-evaluate program’s impact, claiming it has seen significant problems obtaining DME.

AAHomecare Conference Call Urges Rural Bid Reforms

Call focused at news media included various HME providers who detailed impact of bid expansion’s impact on their businesses.

VGM Urges Hospitals to Fight Bid Expansion

VGM Government Relations calls on hospitals to help protect patient access to DME as September legislative efforts intensify.

CMS Revises CMS-855S, 2016 Fee Schedule

DMEPOS providers must use revised enrollment application starting Jan. 1, 2017; fee schedule changes impact 66 codes.

Video: C-SPAN Interviews AAHomecare’s Ryan

Association president and CEO makes case for reforming competitive bidding, follows up with SIRIUS/XM appearance.

Congress Returns to the Hill — and so Does Industry

As HME advocates work to reform competitive bidding expansion, AAHomecare urges providers to assist those efforts

CMS: Competitive Bidding Is Working

As it releases Round One 2017 SPAs and sends out contract offers, agency claims the program is maintaining access and care quality, while saving significant sums.

Ripple Effect: Bid Expansion Leads to Stiff Funding Cuts Outside Medicare

Providers serving TRICARE patients are now feeling the effect of CMS’s July 1 implementation of the full bid expansion cuts; patient access hangs in the balance.

Bid Expansion Gains National Attention

News media covering providers’ stories regarding impact of national bid expansion, raising issue’s profile on Capitol Hill.

HME Business Podcast