HALIFAX, VA., DEC. 14, 2012—According to the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers (NAIMES), using a complex formula in the Medicare statute established by Congress, DME items receive an inflation adjustment to fees annually. The Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U) plus or minus a productivity value gives suppliers an annual change in the fees, except for bid items. It was assumed that suppliers who bid and set median fees took into account any cost increases over the term of their contract and bid accordingly.
The productivity adjustment was -0.9 percent and the CPI-U was +1.7 percent, resulting in a net increase of +0.8 percent. There were also changes to oxygen fees and oxygen maintenance fees to $177.34 and $68.05, respectively. Learn more at www.dmehelp.org.