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
March 25, 2013

Win, Lose or Move On

From: Home Care Magazine

Round 2 of competitive bidding has dealt providers of diabetes supplies a roundhouse blow; how to recover?

by Greg Thompson

Tim Binkley got out while the getting was good, opting to sell the Medicare portion of Valentine’s Diabetic Supply last year. As president and CEO of the Roswell, Ga.-based supplier, he had seen enough. “We saw what happened with the first round of competitive bidding and its 56 percent cut,” he says. “It was unbelievable to think we could stay in business, and now they have cut it even more, 72 percent, with Round 2.”

March 22, 2013

From a Reader on CMS’ Additional 2% Price Cut: “This additional cut only adds insult to injury.”

Editor’s Note:  The following is the verbatim communication received from a health care provider.  CRE thanks the writer for their insights and their commitiment to caring for Medicare beneficiaries despite CMS’ policies that harm the quality of care.  The legal issue raised by the reader should be addressed by HHS/CMS.

To Whom It May Concern,

March 19, 2013

Bidding repeal petition relaunched

From: Home Care Magazine

CUMMING, Ga., March 15, 2013—Rob Brant of Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of America (AMEPA) has coordinated a relaunch of the White House petition to replace Medicare’s current bidding program with the Market Pricing Program. White House petitions only last 30 days and need 100,000 signatures in order to gain a response from the president. Brant believes the industry can gain well over 100,000 signatures with the use of www.savepatientaccess.com, which redirects browsers to the new White House petition link. Now patients, providers and the health care community can add their voice against the current flawed program by entering www.savepatientaccess.cominstead of a 100+ character weblink.

March 14, 2013

CMS issues first guidance on sequestration impact on Medicare

From: Health Care Finance News

Debra A. McCurdy, Reed Smith

March 8, 2013

Lop another 2% off bid rates

From: HME News

WASHINGTON – CMS notified providers on March 8 that reimbursement for claims for durable medical equipment and supplies, including those provided in competitive bidding areas, will be reduced by 2% on April 1.

The reimbursement for claims will be reduced based on whether the date of service, or the start date for rental equipment or multi-day supplies, is on or after April 1.

The cut is part of mandatory across-the-board spending cuts in federal spending.

March 3, 2013

Judge criticizes Medicare bidding program

By Terry Baynes

(Reuters) – A federal judge in Minnesota delivered a sharp rebuke to the government’s new competitive bidding program that affects who can supply certain medical equipment and how much they can be paid by Medicare.

U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank said in an order on Tuesday that while he lacked the authority to rule on the legality of the program, the government was ignoring the harm inflicted on people with disabilities.

“This is a sad day for those who believe that when a judge adheres, even-handedly, to his or her oath of office, justice will prevail and the public interest will be served,” Frank wrote.