FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. (February 9, 2021)—Össur, a global innovator in prosthetic and non-invasive orthopaedic technologies, has implemented critical updates to its proprietary Empower Össur program, helping physician practices, durable medical equipment, and prosthetic and orthotic suppliers (DMEPOS) comply with new, federally mandated competitive bidding requirements for knee and back braces that went into effect on Jan. 1.
competitive bidding
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 18, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the CY 2021 Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Fee Schedule. As of Jan. 1, 2021, CMS will continue to apply the CARES Act relief rates for rural and nonrural areas.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 7, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a 0.6% CPI-U adjustment to the 2021 DMEPOS fee schedule for products previously subject to competitive bidding provided in Competitive Bidding Areas (CBAs). The adjustment for suppliers in rural and other non-bid areas is expected to be even less.
ATLANTA, Georgia (Nov. 5, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) is seeking an unprecedented level of advice from stakeholders even as it makes major changes to the competitive bidding program, Mark Higley, vice president or regulatory affairs for VGM, and others said Wednesday.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (November 4, 2020)—The DMEPOS competitive bidding program was designed to find competitive rates of reimbursement for DME items, not necessarily the lowest, said John Gallagher, vice president of government relations at VGM & Associates, during a presentation for the 2020 Medtrade Virtual conference.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 27, 2020)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the single payment amounts (SPAs) for the Off-The-Shelf (OTS) Back Braces and OTS Knee Braces product categories included in Round 2021 of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP) and began awarding contracts in certain competitive bidding areas (CBAs).
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 24, 2020)—In a recent audit from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG), the department found a 52% increase in Medicare-allowed charges on noninvasive ventilators (NIVs) between 2016 and 2018.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 24, 2020)—Home medical equipment (HME) suppliers have received a notice from the CBIC indicating that that Competitive Bidding Round 2021 “contract offers and disqualification information would soon be provided” in Connexion and encouraging suppliers to make sure their CMS Enterprise Portal information was up to date.
EAST AMHERST, New York (August 21, 2020)—More than 65 organizations and thousands of individuals concerned about complex rehab technology (CRT) came together across the country to participate in National CRT Awareness Week from August 10-14th.
WASHINGTON (August 5, 2020)—The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC)—a coalition of the nation's leading home oxygen therapy provider and manufacturing companies—commended a bipartisan coalition of 101 lawmakers led by Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and David Loebsack (D-IA) for sending a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma urging them to delay implementation of the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program (CBP) for Durable Medical Equipment,
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 31, 2020)—The Congressional sign-on letter urging The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to delay the competitive bidding program for the home medical equipment (HME) industry in light of the current COVID-19 Public Health Emergency closed with 101 House members endorsing a delay.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 12, 2020)—AAHomecare is urging home medical equipment suppliers and other industry stakeholders to educate their Congressional representatives on the potential impacts of moving forward with Round 2021 of the competitive bidding program and enlist their support for a delay in implementing the program.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 29, 2020)—Last year’s Omnibus bill included a provision to exempt manual complex rehab technology (CRT) accessories from bidding derived prices for an 18-month period starting January 1, 2020.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 15, 2020)—A recent survey of more than 500 home medical equipment suppliers shows that the COVID-19 pandemic is seriously impacting suppliers’ access to products on account of supply chain disruptions and rising prices from manufacturers and distributors.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 5, 2020)—The COVID-19 stimulus legislation enacted in late March provides significant reimbursement relief for suppliers servicing Medicare beneficiaries in non-rural areas that are not subject to the bidding program. The reimbursement rate for items that have been receiving 100% of the competitive bidding adjusted fee schedule are getting a blended rate of 75% adjusted and 25% unadjusted (2015 fee schedule) rates.
