DME firms storm the Hill to protest CMS contracting program

Durable medical equipment suppliers got their chance this week to tell Congress directly that they're not happy with Medicare's competitive bidding program. The suppliers addressed a meeting of the subcommittee on health for the House Ways and Means Committee.

While CMS estimates that the program will reduce contract rates [1] for DME by 26 percent, the industry contends that the process will also do harm, because it excluded lots of smaller suppliers not ready to serve large metros. For example, industry reps say that the current program will drive thousands of qualified home medical equipment providers out of the marketplace.

DME speakers got a sympathetic hearing from at least one committee member, Jason Altimire (D-PA). Altmire noted that only 52 medical equipment providers in the Pittsburgh area ended up with CMS contracts to sell DME, leaving out 480 to 640 smaller suppliers.

To learn more about the hearing:
- read this Healthcare Finance News article [2]

Related Article:
Competitive DME billing could save CMS $1B [1]