LENEXA, Kan. (March 9, 2017)—Mediware Information Systems, Inc. is hosting a free webinar for attendees on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at 1:00 Central, 2:00 EST, to learn how the new Trump administration may impact DME providers and the current competitive bidding program.
competitive bidding
Thoughts were shared at Medtrade Spring 2017
LAS VEGAS (March 1, 2017)—At Tuesday morning’s Washington Update, AAHomecare senior staff recounted important achievements from the last six months and discussed the prospects for additional gains for the HME industry in 2017. AAHomecare president and CEO Tom Ryan led off by describing 2017 as a year of opportunity for HME on the public policy front, thanks in part to new leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 13, 2017)—CMS released last week guidance to the DME MACs for retroactive reimbursement adjustments for rural/non-bid area providers for equipment and services furnished between July 1–December 31, 2016. These adjustments follow provisions in last year’s CURES legislation providing a measure of relief for rural/non-bid area providers.
New administration will have opportunity to review program prior to moving forward.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 8, 2017)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to temporarily delay moving forward with the next steps of the Round 2019 Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program to allow the new administration further opportunity to review the program.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 31, 2017)—CMS today announced plans to consolidate all rounds and areas included in the competitive bidding program for DME into a single round of competition to be known as Round 2019. The Round 1 2017, Round 2 Recompete, and National Mail-Order Recompete contract periods for all product categories will all continue through December 31, 2018. Round 2019 contracts will take effect on January 1, 2019, and run through Dec. 31, 2021.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 11, 2017)—AAHomecare’s State Leaders Council, comprised of state association leadership from across the country, formed a Work Group to collaboratively develop strategies and coordinate resources for tackling the provision in recent CURES legislation that limits the federal portion of Medicaid spending to competitive bidding prices for DMEPOS starting in 2018.
Update: On Wedneday, November 30, 2016, the House passed the measure with sweeping bipartisan support.
Update: On Wedneday, November 30, 2016, the House passed the measure with sweeping bipartisan support.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 17, 2016)—The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC)—a coalition of the nation’s leading home oxygen therapy provider and manufacturing companies—today urged lawmakers in Congress to prioritize enactment of provisions of the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment (PADME) Act before the end of the congressional session. The PADME Act would reinstate the phase-in period of deep Medicare cuts to home respiratory care supplies and services.
ATLANTA (November 16, 2016)—Despite a year that saw two major reimbursement reductions courtesy of competitive bidding’s rural expansion, Medtrade attendees and exhibitors remained positive.
ATLANTA (November 2, 2016)—Day three at Medtrade got off to an optimistic start with United States Representative Tom Price, M.D. (R-Ga) telling attendees that there was a “significant possibility that we can get a year’s delay [on bid expansion] starting January 1, 2017.”
NAHC to File Lawsuit to Stop Pre-Claim
A national association is striking back against the “failed” Pre-Claim Review Demonstration (PCRD) with a plan to file a lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). (Amy Baxter/Home Health Care News)
WASHINGTON, D.C (October 19, 2016)—A study released today by the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) shows that Medicare reimbursement rates for home medical equipment cover just 88 percent of overall costs for companies providing this service.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2016)—Dan Starck, chair of CQRC, responds to the GAO Access Report on Competitive Bidding:
"While the CQRC has supported competitive bidding in concept, we remain deeply concerned about the implementation of the competitive bidding program. Today's report shows that fewer beneficiaries are receiving home oxygen therapy in light of competitive bidding."
WATERLOO, Iowa (September 7, 2016)—VGM’s Government Relations team is spearheading a grassroots effort to recruit hospital executives to join the fight against Medicare’s most recent cut to reimbursements.
On July 1 DME providers incurred an additional 25 percent cut for Medicare reimbursements due to the Competitive Bidding Program. Many sectors across the health care industry are feeling the aftershock of difficulties stemming from the DME industry.
WASHINGTON, D.C (August 26, 2016)—Home medical equipment providers who serve our nation’s military personnel are being hit with shocking new Medicare reimbursement cuts thanks to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to widely apply rates from its competitive bidding program outside its original footprint in metro areas to now encompass the entire country.
LENEXA, Kan. (August 25, 2016)—Mediware Information Systems, Inc., is hosting a free webinar for attendees August 31 at 1 p.m. CST, 2 p.m. EST to discuss how providers can use tactical strategies that can put their DME business on the upside even if they lose a competitive bidding contract. The webinar is titled “How the Losing Bidder Can Enter the DME Bid Arena,” presented by Jeffrey S. Baird, chairman of the health care group of Brown & Fortunato.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 24, 2016)—Yesterday, AAHomecare submitted comments on CMS-1651-P, a rule from CMS that proposes to make some adjustments to the Competitive Bidding Program. CMS proposed to make several positive changes, such as increasing the bid ceiling to the 2015 unadjusted fee schedule and expanding the appeals process for breach of contract actions.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 26, 2016)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) has launched a new initiative to survey medical professionals and other individuals in the caregiving continuum to measure the impact of recent Medicare reimbursement cuts on seniors, as well as people with disabilities and chronic conditions.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 15, 2016)—AAHomecare has received confirmation that H.R. 5210, the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act, did not successfully clear through the Senate before adjournment last night thanks to a hold placed by an unidentified Senator. This means the July 1 round of cuts for rural and non-bid area suppliers will remain in effect unless Congress takes action when they return in September.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 7, 2016)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) has commissioned Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, LLC to conduct a full study of suppliers’ fixed and variable costs for furnishing the services associated with supplying durable medical equipment. While limited cost study analyses have been performed in the past, this will be the first to consider DME in multiple categories that are under threat by competitive bidding pricing.