Competitive Bidding


More than 40% of Providers Have Abandoned Medicare Since July 2013

AAHomecare study of Medicare data also shows number of unique locations dropped by 38.7% during the same period.  

Industry Advocates Meet with CMS’s Verma

AAHomecare staff, others to discuss competitive bidding fixes, rural relief with CMS leadership.

Providers Sound Off of CURES Act Call

HME stakeholders share their stories of how bid expansion has impacted their businesses and patients on CMS call; providers can still submit feedback via email.

Registration Open for Washington Legislative Conference

The 2017 edition, which runs May 24-25, offers more time on Capitol Hill to maximize legislative opportunity.

AAHomecare Recommends Six Bidding Fixes to HHS

Letter of recommendations to HHS Secretary Price outlines six alterations to fix program’s fundamental problems.

VGM Letter to HHS’s Price Outlines Action Items

Organization’s formal letter to HHS Secretary identifies three regulatory priorities needed to protect beneficiaries’ access to HME.

CRT Legislation Reintroduced in Both Chambers

House and Senate bills aim to protect complex rehab accessories from bid pricing.

CMS Slates CURES Act Feedback Call

March 23 call give stakeholders an opportunity provide agency with feedback on impact of bid expansion.

AAHomecare Asks HHS to Repeal Full Bid Expansion Rates

Letter from association asks HHS Secretary Tom Price to set rates for rural/non-bid areas at the 50-50, phase-in rates.

CMS CURES Guidance Raises Additional Concerns

Language of last week’s direction from CMS causes uncertainty over CMS's rate-setting methodology.



CMS Instructs DME MACs on CURES Reimbursement

CMS outlines how DME MAC contractors are to begin implementing retroactive reimbursement per the law; process should begin in May.

CMS Delays Competitive Bidding Round 2019

A week after announcing major bid program overhaul that would have merged all rounds, including the mail-order competition, into a single round, CMS puts the plan back under wraps.

AAHomecare Outlines 2017 Advocacy Agenda

Association leader Tom Ryan outlines the various legislative items the organization has begun to focus on in the New Year.

CMS Releases More Details on CURES Act Implementation

CMS provides update on additional six-month delay of bid expansion pricing, other elements of newly approved law.

Key trends building the HME industry

Business Solutions

Taking Shape

Every January, we project 10 key market, product, technology, reimbursement, regulatory, legislative, or patient care trends that will impact providers over the next 12 months. This year brings competitive bidding’s continued impact, audits, providers’ continued efforts to diversify and even reinvent their businesses, and more.

Pres. Obama Signs CURES Act

Legislation that incorporates rural bidding relief and CRT provisions becomes law; AAHomecare highlights need for permanent bidding fix.

Senate Passes CURES Act

Pres. Obama is expected to approve legislation, which provides rural bid relief; AAHomecare head Ryan addresses debate over a key pay-for provision.

House Passes Cures Bill

The 21st Century Cures Act provides six months of retroactive relief for rural providers suffering from national bid expansion.

Trump Names Rep. Price as HHS Secretary

President elect also taps healthcare policy consultant Verma as CMS administrator.

Industry Dives Into Lame Duck Push

As the 114th Congress returns for its last session, the industry doubles-down on reforming bid expansion in hopes of rural relief.

HME Business Podcast