Stakeholders now await final rule
By HME News Staff
Updated Thu September 13, 2018
WASHINGTON - A CMS proposed rule that, among other things, outlined changes to the competitive bidding program drew 514 comments by a Sept. 10 deadline.
“This is an incredible leap from last week, when we reported 216 submissions,” VGM stated in a bulletin. “These comments are crucial to demonstrating the need for additional relief for the non-rural areas among the other areas where CMS fell short in their proposals.”
The comments, which are public, can be read here.
In addition to the submitted comments, the Iowa delegation to the House of Representatives has joined the Ways and Means Committee and others in writing to CMS to express their concerns about the bid program and the proposed changes, VGM reported.
Reps. Rod Blum, Steve King, Dave Loebsack and David Young sent a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma asking the agency to take into account accessibility issues in rural areas when reviewing the public comments and before issuing a final rule, likely in November. They ask that CMS extend the 50/50 blended reimbursement rates to all non-bid areas, not just rural and non-contiguous areas.
Comments