Medicare DME Savings Exact Toll on Suppliers, Access to Care

Touted for saving Medicare millions, a federal competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment (DME) may be limiting beneficiary access to some devices as supplier numbers plunge. According to data cited by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), the number of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) suppliers dropped 93 percent in areas involved in the first Medicare bidding trial on DME. Suppliers of supplementary oxygen dropped 85 percent, and walker suppliers declined 94 percent, he told a recent House Ways & Means health subcommittee hearing.
Devices & Diagnostics Letter