Bid News Blog

This news site presents breaking news on the CMS competitive bidding programs. It is interactive and readers are encouraged to post stories in their names or anonymously
June 30, 2010

CMS Expected to Announce Single Payment Amounts on July 1

HME News

CMS officials told members of its Program Advisory and Oversight Committee (PAOC) this morning that it plans to announce winning bid amounts for Round 1.2 of competitive bidding Thursday afternoon.

A PAOC member told HME News: “Tomorrow afternoon announcement of single payment amounts (SPAs) will happen via typical outreach materials: CBIC and CMS Web sites and list servs.”

The member also wrote: “Tomorrow afternoon winning bidders will get an e-mail telling them to expect a Federal Express contract package Friday, July 2. Bidders will have 10 days to respond. Notification of non-qualifying bidders will happen in September.”

June 23, 2010

Home Medical Providers Urge Preserving Homecare as an Option for Seniors

Big Sky Business Journal

Providers of home medical equipment and services across Montana are proposing a fiscally responsible alternative to the mislabeled “competitive” bidding scheme currently under way in Medicare that will actually discourage competition, reduce access to care for many of Montana’s 160,000 Medicare beneficiaries, and put dozens of Montana homecare providers out of business.  

June 4, 2010

Harvesting New Business Ideas at Heartland

WATERLOO, Iowa — The kick-off may be a hog roast and fireworks, but don’t be fooled — there’s a lot more going on at VGM Group’s Heartland Conference, June 7-10, and most of it is all about helping home medical equipment providers do business better.

The member services group’s ninth annual conference, which is expected to draw about 650 VGM members to the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in Waterloo, Iowa, will feature 90 educational sessions and 87 speakers, some 75 exhibitor booths and the opportunity to earn up to 24 continuing education units. In addition, attendees can grab lunch and participate in one of seven small-group discussions.

June 2, 2010

New Jersey DME Suppliers Propose Alternative to Competitive Bidding

JACKSON, N.J., June 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Providers of home medical equipment and services across New Jersey are proposing a fiscally responsible alternative to the mislabeled “competitive” bidding scheme currently under way in Medicare that will actually discourage competition, reduce access to care for many of the state’s 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries, and put hundreds of New Jersey homecare providers out of business.