Competitive Bidding


Round 2021 Details Remain Unknown

With the scheduled bid amounts release date long past, AAHomecare presses CMS for details.

New Bill Aims to Fix Rural Oxygen Payment Disparity

H.R. 8158 would address the fact that rates for oxygen concentrators in some rural areas are significantly lower than rates in competitive bidding areas.

Providers Urged to Help Drive H.R. 2771 Support

Bill that would extend rural and non-bid area relief, as well as protect oxygen funding, currently sits at 79 co-sponsors — and needs more.

House Sign-on Letter Aims to Protect Manual CRT Users

Providers called on to urge their Representatives to sign Congressional letter urging CMS to remove accessories for manual CRT chairs from the competitive bidding program.

AAHomecare Rounds up Industry Issues in Play

While COVID-19 is at the fore of the industry’s mind, the next four months offer the industry to notch some policy wins on non-bid area rates, taxes on Cares relief, and CRT accessories

Nearly 100 Lawmakers Sign Round 2021 Letter

Last-minute push for a letter calling on HHS and CMS to delay Round 2021 of competitive bidding due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic garners signatures from 98 Representatives.

Two Key Industry Efforts: Round 2021 Delay and AAHomecare Ambassadors

Tom Ryan of American Association for Homecare joins the HMEB podcast to discuss the current push to delay Round 2021 and the special Ambassador project to get more providers involved in the association.

House Sign-on Letter Calls for Bid Delay

HME providers have until July 29 to secure signatures on Congressional letter urging HHS and CMS to delay Round 2021 for at least a year.

AAHomecare: CMS Must Delay Round 2021

Association calls on providers to ensure their lawmakers understand that COVID-19 necessitates CMS delay implementing the next round.

Providers Called to Help Round 2021 Delay Effort

AAHomecare calls on HME providers and other industry stakeholders to contact their members of Congress and urge them to support delaying the implementation of Round 2021 of CMS’s competitive bidding program.



AAHomecare Survey Reveals Supply Chain Disruptions, Price Increases For HME Providers During COVID-19 Crisis

The survey asked more than 500 providers about the issues they have faced in obtaining PPE, oxygen equipment and other products since the onset of the pandemic.

AAHomecare Launches HME Supply Chain Survey

The effort aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HME providers’ supply chain in order to help build the case to delay competitive bidding implementation by one year. The deadline to take the survey is April 21.

National Mail-Order: Diabetes Benefit Use Fell, Retail Sales Grew

A new Medicare Payment Advisory Commission study of CMS’s national mail-order program for diabetic supplies showed a drop in benefit use and an increase in retail sales between 2010 and 2017, but did not see an increase in adverse health outcomes.

CMS Removes Non-Invasive Ventilators From Round 2021

Attributing the decision to COVID-19 as well as other factors, NIVs will not be part of Round 2021, and any DMEPOS supplier can provide the devices, as well as any other ventilator types covered by Medicare.

aahomecare update 2020

AAHomecare Draws Roadmap For 2020 During Revamped Medtrade Spring Update

Association leaders shared updates on legislation, the standard written order process, payer relations and AAHomecare’s plans to add members and increase its operating budget.

Proposed 2021 Federal Budget Could Impact DME

Industry groups still reviewing budget administration’s budget, but suggested provisions include a reform and expansion of competitive bidding.

Industry Bills Still Need Provider Support

Providers called on to contact lawmakers to support legislative initiatives to protect non-invasive ventilators and provide relief to non-rural, non-bid area providers.

Providers Urged to Continue Advocacy Push

Providers called on to contact lawmakers to support legislative initiatives to protect non-invasive ventilators and provide relief to non-rural, non-bid area providers.

AAHomecare: Time to Turn up the Heat

Association underscores need for stakeholder support regarding legislative items such as protecting non-invasive ventilators and non-bid area relief.

Senate Passes Manual CRT Protections

Upper chamber approves spending bill containing provisions that protect Manual CRT wheelchairs and accessories from competitive bidding. Bill goes to President to be signed into law.

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