HME News: Top 10 most read stories in 2008

YARMOUTH, Maine - What was the subject of the most-read HME News story in 2008: national competitive bidding or the 36-month oxygen cap? Drum roll, please: It was "The votes are in: Senate delays competitive bidding," which appeared in our July 7 NewsWire and was read by more than 8,246 subscribers. In all, competitive bidding was the subject of seven of the top 10 most read stories in 2008. The stories detailed the industry's initial failed attempts to delay competitive bidding ("Industry scrambles to craft new bidding bill"), the program's rocky start ("CMS names contract winners, delays accreditation deadline"), and the road leading up to its ultimate delay ("Industry makes 'incredible push' to delay competitive bidding"). Surprisingly, the oxygen cap doesn't make an appearance on the list of most read stories until No. 4. That story, "Oxygen guidelines knock wind out of providers," appeared in our Nov. 3 NewsWire. Coming in at No. 2 was "Invacare parts ways with The Scooter Store," which appeared in our Jan. 21 NewsWire. The only other non-competitive bidding or non-oxygen related story: "Senate makes Medicare moves," which appeared in our June 9 NewsWire. This story detailed the Senate's failed attempts to eliminate the first month purchase option for power wheelchairs and make additional cuts to home oxygen. Take a walk down memory lane and re-read the top 10 stories from HME News: 1. The votes are in: Senate delays competitive bidding http://www.hmenews.com/index.php?p=article&id=hm200807TPK9OP 2. Invacare parts ways with the Scooter Store http://www.hmenews.com/index.php?p=article&id=hm200801vJnD2G 3. CMS unveils competitive bidding fee schedule for DMEPOS http://www.hmenews.com/index.php?p=article&id=hm200803xfvVzv 4. Oxygen guidelines knock wind out of providers http://www.hmenews.com/index.php?p=article&id=hm200811u7gkSb 5. Competitive bidding delay stands http://www.hmenews.com/index.php?p=article&id=hm2008077pTuAg 6. CMS names contract winners, delays accreditation deadline http://www.hmenews.com/index.php?p=article&id=hm200805hiqMVp 7. Senate makes Medicare moves http://www.hmenews.com/index.php?p=article&id=hm200806ZJkXhU 8. CMS announces competitive bidding pricing http://www.hmenews.com/index.php?p=article&id=hm200803F38Xqu 9. Industry makes 'incredible' push to delay competitive bidding http://www.hmenews.com/index.php?p=article&id=hm20080696NrUt 10. Industry scrambles to craft new bidding bill http://www.hmenews.com/index.php?p=article&id=hm200802MmMulN