Durable medical equipment manufacturers and suppliers were unsuccessful in their efforts to avert the July 1 launch of “round two” of competitive bidding for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies. Since CMS announced plans in January to pay 45 percent less than current fee-schedule rates for eight categories of DMEPOS in 91 cities, and 72 percent less nationwide for diabetes products beginning July 1, DMEPOS makers and suppliers have argued that the Medicare program erodes health care access and quality. (See Also see "Medicare Durable Equipment Cuts Will Deepen In Next Round Of Competitive Bidding" - Medtech Insight, 4 February, 2013..)
Recent efforts to avert the July 1 start date include a regulatory fairness hearing held in Iowa by the U.S. Small Business Administration, which testified about Medicare’s competitive bidding program...