WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 4, 2014)—Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today introduced the Medicare Competitive Bidding Improvement Act of 2014. The Competitive Bidding Improvement Act, companion legislation to HR 4920, which Congressmen Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio) and John Larson (D-Conn.) introduced in the House in June, is a short and simple bill that would help deter speculative bidding in Medicare contract auctions.
home modification
A thorough assessment of your position will set you up for success
DALLAS, Texas (Dec. 10, 2013)—Since DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Round 2 winners were announced, health care attorney and commercial litigator, Edward Vishnevetsky, has received dozens of calls and emails from clients inquiring about a work-around whereby a non-contract supplier can access a contract supplier’s contract by buying five percent of the stock of the contract supplier.
Webinar
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013
2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Sadly, there are way too many quality DME providers that have not been awarded contracts.
WASHINGTON (Nov. 15, 2013)—Congressional briefings on the bidding program will take place on Monday, Nov. 18. All Senate members and House Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce members have been invited. Because the briefings are not open to the public, AAHomecare staff and members will be unable to attend.
AUBURN, Mich. (Oct. 31, 2013)—A Medicare bidding program is jeopardizing the health of Michigan senior citizens and people living with disabilities who are unable to obtain critical home medical equipment prescribed by their physicians. More than 100 Michigan Medicare patients have sought assistance from a consumer hotline, despite claims from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that there have been few problems.
WASHINGTON (Oct. 24, 2013)—Only a few Medicare patients have reported problems related to the bidding program for home medical equipment that rolled out in 91 new areas on July 1, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Yet, more than 2,000 patients have called an organization, People for Quality Care, desperately seeking assistance for situations jeopardizing their health and quality of life.
Position your HME business for home modification sales
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1, 2013—Although you may not have felt it, on July 1, 2013, the earth certainly moved under the feet of DME suppliers across the country. It was the beginnings of a tectonic shift in how consumers will get their home medical equipment and supplies. Cracks began to show up on the surface of the DME world over the past months but on July 1, fissures began to open up that will swallow a large number of suppliers and the patients they serve.
WATERLOO, Iowa, June 6, 2013—At a Regulatory Fairness Hearing hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration on June 6, healthcare advocates and medical equipment suppliers testified about the potentially costly effects of Medicare’s competitive bidding program. They emphasized the damaging consequences this arbitrary new bidding program for Medicare contracts will inevitably have on Medicare beneficiaries and on the economy.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 16, 2013—Currently H.R. 1717, the Medicare DMEPOS Market Pricing Program Act of 2013, has 44 cosponsors. It needs to get at least as many cosponsors as H.R. 6490, which had 94. To make this happen, everyone must do their part.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 10, 2013—With the July 1 start date of Round 2 right around the corner, the Washington Legislative Conference provides a vital opportunity for providers and manufacturers to talk with federal policy makers about the negative impact of so-called “competitive” bidding and the need for an alternative program.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 11, 2013—According to AAHomecare, at last week’s Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing for Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator, Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) highlighted the specific areas on which he wanted Tavenner to focus:
BALTIMORE, Md., April 9, 2013—According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), it has today announced that 799* suppliers have been awarded contracts as part of Round 2 of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program to provide certain medical equipment and supplies (such as scooters, wheelchairs and oxygen) to beneficiaries in 91 communities across the country.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 11, 2013— From Tyler J. Wilson, president of the American Association for Homecare: “With the release today of information about competitive bidding Round 2 contract suppliers, CMS continues to gloss over the structural problems in the bidding program. In its announcement, the agency spins a far from accurate picture regarding all the supposed positives for Medicare.
BALTIMORE, Md., April 9, 2013—According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), it has today announced that 799* suppliers have been awarded contracts as part of Round 2 of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program to provide certain medical equipment and supplies (such as scooters, wheelchairs and oxygen) to beneficiaries in 91 communities across the country.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 29, 2013—Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) and Rep. Renée Ellmers (R-N.C.) took issue with USA TODAY’S characterization of their work to fix Medicare’s absurdly designed bidding program.
CUMMING, Ga., March 22, 2013—As reported by Rob Brandt of Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of America (AMEPA), the “nearly impossible” has happened. A Republican-led bill passed the Senate 79-20, and repealed a provision of the Affordable Care Act. Job loss and a lot of industry noise is being credited with the repeal of the 2.3 percent Medical Device Tax, which is a good sign for the DME industry.
LAS VEGAS, March 29, 2013—Medtrade proved to be a productive time for the American Association for Homecare councils. Specifically, the Complex Rehab and Mobility Council (CRMC) discussed progress and which direction AAHomecare should advocate for in the prior authorization (PA) demonstration project, legislative and policy problems related to competitive bidding, non-warranty repairs, and state Medicaid fee schedules.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 21, 2013—The American Association for HomeCare reports that Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) has sent a letter to CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner expressing numerous concerns about the bidding program and requesting a timely response from the Agency. The letter was co-signed by 100 other Representatives in a strong bipartisan show of support for the well-being of Medicare patients and the home care sector.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 14, 2013—AAHomecare is making a formal request to the Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) urging the investigative group to complete its congressionally-mandated assessment of the Medicare bidding program.