According to several DME/ HME news sources, industry stakeholders are working to introduce two separate bills with the purpose of delaying competitive bidding for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, and ostomy and urological supplies.
The bills are logically distinct, one proposing CGM and insulin pump delays, the other advocating for the delay of ostomy and urological supplies.
AAHomecare’s vice president of government relations, Jay Witter, states: “It’s two separate issues, two separate arguments, two separate sets of data. The bills are very similar, and we are obviously building support for both and having both passed into law.”
Furthermore, this is not the first time advocacy groups, including United Spinal Association and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC), and industry stakeholders, such as AAHomecare, have advocated for withholding these critical items from CMS' final competitive bidding plans.
Ike Isaacson, senior vice president, government & regulatory relations for VGM Group, states: “With all the challenges of competitive bidding, Medicaid cuts and other headwinds, there is a renewed energy on creating relationships with state and federal legislators. We need all hands-on deck to raise the visibility of these bills in Congress.”
AAHomecare is currently raising awareness for the bill advocating for ostomy and urological supply bidding delays here via a house sign-on letter.
