Competitive Bidding


Congress Returns to the Hill — and so Does Industry

As HME advocates work to reform competitive bidding expansion, AAHomecare urges providers to assist those efforts

CMS: Competitive Bidding Is Working

As it releases Round One 2017 SPAs and sends out contract offers, agency claims the program is maintaining access and care quality, while saving significant sums.

Ripple Effect: Bid Expansion Leads to Stiff Funding Cuts Outside Medicare

Providers serving TRICARE patients are now feeling the effect of CMS’s July 1 implementation of the full bid expansion cuts; patient access hangs in the balance.

Bid Expansion Gains National Attention

News media covering providers’ stories regarding impact of national bid expansion, raising issue’s profile on Capitol Hill.

VIDEO: Wheelchair Accessories Legislation Picks Up Steam

Rep. Zeldin (R-NY), other speakers tout H.R.3229 at press conference held at The Children's Center at United Cerebral Palsy of Long Island.

AAHomecare Calls on Providers to Help Sept. Legislative Push

With a small legislative window opening next month, Association urges HME professionals to contact their lawmakers to make strong case for rural/non-bid relief.

More Providers Voice Rural Bid Frustrations

Additional HME businesses share impact of cuts with AAHomecare as advocates work to reverse bid expansion to rural, non-bid areas.

AAHomecare Continues Call for Provider Data

Providers urged to participate in the DME Cost Study and 2Q Audit Key survey to bolster industry’s case for bidding, audit reforms.

VIDEO: Providers Describe Impact of Cuts

As the July 1 cuts take hold, HME providers convey the impact that cuts are having on their patients and their ability to stay in business.

Editor's Note

Rekindling HME's Hope

July's setbacks to rural relief legislation were extremely frustrating, but the fight's far from over and there are reasons to feel optimistic.



Rural Relief

Business Solutions

The Rural Relief Rethink

After considerable and concerted lobbying work on the part of providers, industry leadership, Congressional champions and other HME advocates, relief from national expansion cuts for rural providers was stymied not once, but twice. What happened, and how can the industry reapproach advancing some form of rural relief?

Providers Urged to Take Cost Study Survey

Effort will not only help better benchmark the industry, but provide much-needed data on true impact of competitive bidding.

Senate Champions Confirm Continued Rural Relief Support

Industry’s allies in the upper chamber say they will help push rural relief when Congress returns to the Hill in Sept.

Heartbreak for Rural Relief

While Senate hotline looked to put legislation on a fast track to approval, a last-minute hold stalls out rural providers’ reprieve from full bid expansion cuts. Industry considers next steps.

Senate Likely to Approve Compromise Rural Relief

The Senate has put its version of the recently approved House rural relief bill on ‘hotline,’ which is typically a 24-hour fast track to approval.

Industry Leaders Urge Grassroots Support

As advocates work with Congressional leadership, providers, patients urged to lobby Senators and Representatives to compromise, advance rural relief to President by July 15.

CMS Rule Would Shift Bid Ceiling to 2015 Amounts

Bid limits on items covered by bid program would be based on fee schedule set prior to when bidding prices were set.

AAHomecare Study to Model Provider Costs

Effort will demonstrate the true cost of providing DMEPOS items to Medicare beneficiaries.

House Passes Rural Relief

While House sit-in stalled PADME vote, Representatives approve a delay that would push second round of expansion cuts to Sept. 30.

AAHomecare: Rural Relief Still Has a Chance

As July 1’s full rate cuts loom over rural providers, AAHomecare urges for continued grassroots advocacy as it might still secure a retroactive reform.

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