Bill Would Keep Ostomy, Urologics From Competitive Bidding for Now

WASHINGTON—Two U.S. Representatives have introduced a bill that would that would temporarily exempt ostomy and urological supplies from competitive bidding.

The Access to Medical Supplies Act (HR 1-787) was introduced by Reps. Greg Murphy and Brad Schneider and limits those products’ inclusion in the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) bidding program for five years. The pause would give the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), with input from stakeholders, time to fully analyze how the change would affect patients, according to the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare), which shared its support for the move.

The bill also creates a technical expert panel to study the impact of adding these supplies to the program and a demonstration project to test the effects before CMS makes a final decision.

“Before CMS enacts a program that reshapes how patients receive highly personalized medical supplies, it should understand exactly what is at stake,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare. “Reps. Murphy and Schneider’s bipartisan bill allows CMS to study the impact, test it, and hear from patients and providers before making changes that could disrupt access across the country. We urge every member of Congress to support this bill and protect patient access.” 

In its final rule for DMEPOS and home health payments, CMS created a national Remote Item Delivery (RID) competitive bidding program, establishing a single nationwide competition rather than separate competitions across geographic areas. CMS has named ostomy and urological supplies among the RID product categories for the next bidding round, set to take effect in January 2028. 

AAHomecare said it has met with CMS and White House officials to warn that inclusion of these supplies in a national RID program could harm patient access to medically necessary supplies.