From: HME News
WASHINGTON – There are more questions than answers about Round 2 of competitive bidding, but that may be a good thing, HME industry stakeholders say.
The last they knew, CMS planned to announce the zip codes and product categories for Round 2 in the fall of 2010, open registration in the winter of 2010-11, accept bids in the summer of 2011 and implement the program Jan. 1, 2013. But so far, the agency has been “strangely quiet” about the next step in the program, they say.
From: Home Care Magazine
ATLANTA — A tidal wave of trouble is on the way for those in the mail-order diabetic supply market as thousands of beneficiaries attempt to find new providers under competitive bidding, stakeholders predicted last week.
Some estimate that more than 90 percent of the Medicare diabetic beneficiaries in the nine competitive bidding areas will be forced to find new suppliers because the nation’s top four diabetic supply companies — including giant Liberty Medical — and other established diabetic providers did not win contracts.
From: HME News
WASHINGTON – Companion bills that would repeal a tax on medical devices, including most durable medical equipment, were introduced in the House and Senate Jan. 25. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contained a provision that would impose a 2.3% excise tax on medical device sales to help pay for the healthcare reform plan. The tax, set to begin in 2013, is expected to raise $20 billion over 10 years. H.R. 436 and S. 17 were introduced by Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
Obama re-nominates CMS administrator