Competitive Bidding Begins Jan. 1

Medicare’s competitive bidding program for DMEPOS begins Jan. 1, and providers across the nine Round 1 bidding areas are bracing for what most believe will be difficult fallout from the drastic change in provision of home medical equipment.

“With the CMS ‘competitive’ bidding program set to begin in Round 1 metro areas as the clock strikes twelve this New Year’s Eve, seniors and other people in these locations who depend on home medical equipment are likely to experience problems including difficulties finding an equipment provider, delays in hospital discharge or delivery of equipment and fewer equipment choices,” according to the American Association for Homecare.

The association and other industry organizations are asking providers, consumers, caregivers, physicians and other discharge/referral sources to document any problems with the bidding system through online forms and toll-free hotline numbers.

• Find AAHomecare’s feedback resources at www.biddingfeedback.com or call toll-free 888/990-0499.
• Report problems via the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers’ (NAIMES) data collection website at www.competitivebiddingconcerns.com.
• Call the Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of America’s (AMEPA) competitive bidding hotline at 888/876-3369.
• AMEPA has also tailored flyers for each CBA for distribution to doctors and hospitals. The flyers include the 888/876-3369 number and the phone numbers of each area’s U.S. senators and how to reach its U.S. representatives.
• In Florida, Sen. Bill Nelson has set up a toll-free line to monitor the bid program. Medicare beneficiaries and others can call in at 888/671-4091.
• Beneficiaries can also share their stories or contact legislators through VGM’s People for Quality Care website at www.peopleforqualitycare.com or on its Facebook page.

View more competitive bidding stories.