Home Health & Hospice Week

DME suppliers are pinning their hopes for a competitive bidding repeal on new legislation.

On March 11, Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) introduced the "Fairness in Medicare Bidding Act" (H.R. 1041). The bill calls for repealing the bidding program in "a budget neutral manner," notes the congressmen's "Dear Colleague" letter to fellow lawmakers.

"The American Association for Homecare has received hundreds of complaints about the bidding program from beneficiaries, physicians, case managers, and homecare providers," the trade group says in a release. Low bidding "payment rates are leading to the provision of lower-quality medical equipment and reduced services associated with home medical equipment."

The DME bidding program started in nine areas in January and is set to spread to 91 more areas later this year, AAHomecare notes.

The bill will become "the focal point and the battle cry for suppliers across the country," says the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers.