Bid News Blog

From: CMS

We have two announcements of interest to suppliers that are considering participating in the Round 2 and national mail-order competitions of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.

First, the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) has issued a new fact sheet providing antitrust guidance for bidders. To view the fact sheet, please go to the CBIC website at www.dmecompetitivebid.com and select Bidding Suppliers: Round 2 & National Mail-Order and then choose Fact Sheets.

from: HME News

By Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor

WASHINGTON – Congress gave the HME industry a Christmas present today, when it approved a two-month extension of a controversial payroll tax cut.

That gives the industry more time to lobby lawmakers to include its market pricing program (MPP), an alternative to competitive bidding, in a final package on the tax cut and “doc fix.”

“Anything that gives us more time is a good thing,” said Wayne Stanfield, president and CEO of NAIMES.

From: HME News

‘Some people want the doom and gloom, but that’s simply not the case’

By Liz Beaulieu, Editor

WATERLOO, Iowa – The VGM Group, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2011, says the days of increasing its HME provider membership by 10% each year are long gone. But that’s not cause for concern, says COO Jim Phillips.

“Some people want the doom and gloom, but that’s simply not the case,” he said. “Our membership is stable. We’re just not seeing the HME entries that we did years and years ago.”

From: CMS

From: HME News

WASHINGTON – CMS announced Nov. 30 that it removed ultra lightweight manual wheelchairs, gimbaled ventilator trays, and push activated power assist devices from the standard wheelchair product category for Round 2. 

• All Group 2 complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs (K0835 through K0843);