CMS awards new contracts

WASHINGTON - CMS on Wednesday announced the contract suppliers for the latest round of its competitive bidding program.

For Round 1 2017, CMS says it has executed 182 contracts, 92% of the contracts it offered. The contracts will run from Jan. 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2018.

CMS says 92% of the contract suppliers are already established in the competitive bidding area, the product category, or both. It says 93% of small suppliers, those with gross revenues of $3.5 million or less, accepted offers.

Contract suppliers for each product category in each CBA can be found in the Supplier Directory at www.medicare.gov/supplier.

CMS announced the single payment amounts for Round 1 2017 on Sept. 8.

Contract suppliers will see an overall reduction in Medicare reimbursement of 5.2% from the Round 1 re-compete to Round 1 2017. The product categories with the steepest cuts are TENS devices at 45.1%, followed by CPAP devices at 18.5%.