The National Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (NAIMES) last week expressed “serious concerns” with new product categories and groupings announced for the Round 1 Recompete of Medicare’s Competitive Bidding Program.
NAIMES questioned the expansion of categories and including dissimilar products within groups. “By including TENS units and commodes in the bed category, CMS is expanding categories much too broadly,” NAIMES said.
The association opposes the inclusion of infusion pumps in bidding. And NAIMES said it doesn’t make sense to include walkers in the wheelchair category, commodes with hospital beds and nebulizers in the respiratory category.
“Including these three products in with larger categories will make it virtually impossible for small independent suppliers and pharmacies to participate since they may not have the ability to bid on the broader new categories,’’ the association said.