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.
competitive bidding
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.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 26, 2020)—The Senate passed a $2 trillion stimulus package yesterday with provisions designed to help stabilize the economy and provide direct aid to most individuals and families.
The bill also contains measures related to Medicare HME policy, including:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 20, 2020)—As reported last week, the Trump Administration published the HHS Fiscal Year 2021 Budget in Brief which included several proposals related to the home medical equipment industry.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 12, 2020)—This week, the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget was published by the Trump Administration. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published an accompanying Budget in Brief that highlights all the proposals that impact health care.
The legislation & regulation that made last year
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 18, 2019)—Provisions permanently excluding manual complex rehab technology (CRT) wheelchairs from the competitive bidding program have been included in FY 2020 appropriations legislation. The legislation also exempts CRT manual accessories from bidding-derived pricing for an 18-month period, starting Jan. 1, 2020.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 5, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have posted the Notice of Preliminary Bid Evaluation (PBE) and sent emails for all bidders noting whether they have met bidding requirements in areas including PTAN status, surety bond, licensure and accreditation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 4, 2019)—Two United States representatives have introduced legislation to protect patient access to non-invasive ventilators, the American Association of Homecare reports. HR 4945, the Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy (SMART) Act, sponsored by Reps.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 25, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) has responded to members of the House of Representatives who joined a Congressional sign-on letter asking the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CMS to reconsider plans to include non-invasive ventilators in Round 2021 of the competitive bidding program.