In brief: Bid delay push, VGM election guide, disability research grants
By HME News Staff
Updated 1:06 PM CDT, Fri October 30, 2026
WASHINGTON – Numerous organizations representing health care professionals and people who use diabetes, urological and ostomy supplies are putting their weight behind bills that would delay these product categories from being included in Medicare’s competitive bidding program for five years.
The two bills currently at play:
- The Diabetes Interventions Addressing Barriers to Enrollment, Technology, and Education Services Act (DIABETES Act), S. 4037, was introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, to, among other things, delay the program for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps for five years.
- The Access to Medical Supplies Act, H.R. 10787, was introduced by Reps. Greg Murphy, M.D., R-N.C., and Brad Schneider, D-Ill., to exclude urological and ostomy supplies from the program for five years.
CBP will impact patient access
Twelve organizations recently sent a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., opposing the inclusion of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps in the program, according to AAHomecare.
The letter raises concerns about patient access, noting that CGMs and insulin pumps are critical to diabetes management and are part of the standards of care published by the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.
It also points to the benefits of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, specifically:
“Research has shown that use of these technologies results in better health for people with diabetes. Real-world data shows that AID systems provide significant glycemic improvements in people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in the Medicare population. These technologies are also cost-effective, reducing hospitalizations and emergency department visits, with total savings to federal health care programs in the billions of dollars over the last couple of decades.”
Petition & lobby day amplify message
A petition spearheaded by the ITEM Coalition to raise concerns about the inclusion of ostomy and urological supplies in the program has received 2,116 signers as of Oct. 12, according to AAHomecare.
Petition signers represent all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, with more than 70% of signers being end users who are directly impacted by the policy or family caregivers who help care for someone who is, the association says. Numerous clinicians and HME professionals have also signed in support.
Meanwhile, the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) recently held a Virtual Ostomy Day, hosting meetings with 73 congressional offices across 28 states to address concerns with the program, according to AAHomecare.
WOCN offers resources to support engagement
The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society has prepared resources to help its more than 6,500 members urge their representatives to co-sponsor the bill.
"Nurses see firsthand how access to the right supplies affects a patient's health, independence, and daily life," said Christine Berke, MSN, APRN-NP, AGPCNP-BC, CWOCN-AP, president of WOCN. "We have spent years educating policymakers about the clinical needs of the patients who rely on these products. This legislation represents an important step toward protecting their access, and we urge our members to help Congress understand why these protections matter."
VGM releases election guide to increase engagement
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM has released a guide to the upcoming mid-term elections to help home medical equipment (HME) providers better understand the policy landscape and identify opportunities for civic engagement.
“An informed HME community is a stronger HME community,” VGM states. “By understanding the issues, knowing where policymakers stand, and participating in the democratic process, HME suppliers can help ensure that the voices of providers and patients are heard. We hope this guide serves as a valuable resource as you follow the policy discussions shaping the future of home-based care, patient access, and the HME industry.”
The guide includes:
- Links to voter registration and election resources for every state.
- Information on key HME-related legislation and the lawmakers who support these efforts.
- A state-by-state overview of legislators who have championed policies important to the HME community.
- Examples of Advocacy in Action and ways suppliers can effectively engage elected officials on issues impacting patients and providers.
VGM says the guide is intended as an educational resource and does not endorse, support or oppose any political party, candidate or elected official.
Click here to view the “HME Suppliers Guide to the 2026 Elections.
VGM’s Ike Isaacson and Dan Fedor also recently authored an op-ed in HME News on the return on investment on the industry’s lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C.
HHS awards $35M in new grants for disability research, technology and training
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), has announced more than $35 million in funding for 68 new grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) for fiscal year 2026. The grants, which pay for research, technology development, training and technical assistance, aim to improve health, expand job opportunities and support independent living and community life for people with disabilities. “These grants will help people with disabilities stay healthy, find meaningful work, and live and take part in their communities,” said Kristi Hill, PhD, acting director of NIDILRR. “Our goal is research and technology that make a real difference in everyday life, and these new grants move us closer to that.” The grants aim to:
- Improve rehabilitation and whole-person health
- Expand employment and economic opportunity
- Support independence and caregivers
- Strengthen ADA accessibility and ADA implementation
- Develop technology and build the evidence base
For complete award details, visit USAspending.gov and HHS TAGGS.
Florida woman convicted of telemarketing scheme for unnecessary orthotic braces
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A federal jury in the Middle District of Florida has convicted a Florida woman who owned a durable medical equipment (DME) company and managed several other DME companies for her role in a fraud scheme that took advantage of the elderly and disabled and caused the submission of more than $8.6 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, according to the Department of Justice. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sophie Dufort, 57, of Gainesville, Fla., conspired with Paula Pirone, 70, of Ocala, Fla., and others to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare based on fake doctor prescriptions for orthotic braces. Dufort and her co-conspirators illegally purchased these prescriptions from purported marketing companies that engaged in high pressure and manipulative telemarketing calls to get Medicare beneficiary information. The marketing companies then paid medical practitioners to sign prescriptions for orthotic braces without contacting or evaluating the patients, or stole doctor credentials to create forged prescriptions, and then sold those prescriptions to Dufort’s DME companies, or those of her co-conspirators. Dufort and her co-conspirators then shipped braces to the Medicare beneficiaries and billed Medicare for millions of dollars in claims, despite the fact that the beneficiaries did not want or need the braces and no doctor had examined the beneficiary to determine if they needed the braces. The defendant was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, two counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to offer and pay illegal kickbacks, and one count of offering and paying illegal kickbacks. Dufort faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, 10 years in prison for each health care fraud count and kickback count, and 5 years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and to offer and pay illegal kickbacks. A sentencing hearing is scheduled in Jan. 2027.
EnsoData earns new certification for EnsoSleep sleep score software
MADISON, Wis. – EnsoData has announced that EnsoSleep, its artificial intelligence (AI) scoring software for in-lab and home sleep studies, has received Full Autoscoring Certification from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). The company says the certification independently validates EnsoSleep’s performance across all four scoring domains evaluated by the program: sleep staging, respiratory events, arousals and leg movements. "Earning full autoscoring certification from the AASM is an important step for the sleep community and EnsoData," said Sam Rusk, co-founder and chief AI officer at EnsoData. "This milestone reflects the depth of EnsoSleep’s capabilities and a decades-long commitment to clinical quality and real-world accuracy. For clinicians, it provides another reason to integrate AI into their workflow and enables more time to focus on patients.” EnsoData says this new certification adds the clear evidence and confidence needed to guide the adoption of AI-assisted sleep scoring, expand diagnostic capacity and support clinical staff. The company says it also reinforces EnsoData’s focus on bringing AI into everyday clinical practice through technology grounded in measurable performance and sleep medicine expertise.
NCPA helps to fund state advocacy efforts
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has launched a new initiative offering strategic funding and support to state-based pharmacy organizations working to strengthen community and long-term care pharmacy. The association says the State Advocacy Program is designed to complement its other state regulatory and legislative work, including its State Panel of Experts, which was launched earlier this year to give state pharmacy associations complementary access to policy and legal experts to help craft and advance pharmacy and patient friendly policies. “Some of the most important victories for patients and pharmacies will be won one state at a time and depend upon the strength and resilience of our state partners,” said NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist. “Through NCPA’s State Advocacy Grant Program, we’re proud to be offering another means of supporting these frontline defenders of our profession, boosting resources they can use tactically to amplify their voices, shape effective policy, and make meaningful change.” Those eligible to apply for the State Advocacy Program include state pharmacy associations, independent pharmacy associations and other incorporated pharmacy advocacy organizations aligned with NCPA advocacy priorities, including commercial payment reform, pharmacy benefit manager-pharmacy ownership laws, audit reform legislation, state cost-of-dispensing surveys and state-based funding programs for eligible pharmacies. The association says it will give priority consideration to projects with measurable objectives, a demonstrated legislative or regulatory opportunity, and a well-defined strategy for success.
Kivo Health closes new round of funding for virtual COPD program
SEATTLE – Kivo Health, an artificial intelligence-powered virtual care company that helps people manage chronic disease, has announced an oversubscribed $10 million Series A led by Allumia Ventures, with participation from Corewell Health Ventures, Y Combinator, Heuristic Capital and MassMutual Ventures. The round, which brings total funding to more than $16 million, will enable Kivo to expand its health plan partnerships and clinical operations nationwide while advancing its virtual pulmonary rehabilitation and care program. “Up to thirty million Americans have COPD, and the system only shows up for them when they are already in the hospital,” said Victor Sadauskas, MD, founder and CEO of Kivo Health. “By thoughtfully combining high-quality clinical care with AI, we can now scale proactive, accessible care to every senior, improving symptoms and reducing avoidable costs. This is the first step in addressing the $1 trillion in annual healthcare spend on chronic disease among seniors.” A peer-reviewed study of Kivo's virtual pulmonary rehabilitation program demonstrated:
- 24% improvement in symptoms
- 34% improvement in functional capacity
- 25% improvement in mood
- 83% median program attendance
An independent actuarial analysis also found that Kivo's model could reduce total health care spending by $8,245 per member per year through fewer hospitalizations, emergency room visits and nursing home days. Over time, the company plans to extend its approach to additional high-cost chronic conditions, building a scalable model for delivering proactive care to millions of seniors.
Insulet’s data platform now available widely in US
ACTON, Mass. – Insulet has announced the full market release of Omnipod Discover, a web-based data platform designed for Omnipod 5 users, their caregivers and health care providers, in the United States. The company says the platform turns diabetes data into clear visualizations and personalized insights, providing a shared understanding of therapy patterns and empowering more informed diabetes management decisions. "The future of diabetes care is not just about generating more data, it's about making that data meaningful,” said Dr. Trang Ly, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Insulet. “Omnipod Discover simplifies data review for Omnipod 5 users and their health care providers so they spend less time gathering information and more time collaborating on diabetes management." Insulet says Omnipod Discover has already been adopted in the United States by more than 15,000 Omnipod 5 users and more than 1,800 health care professionals as part of Insulet's limited market release program. In June, the company presented Real-World Glycemic Outcomes using the Omnipod Discover platform at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions in New Orleans that showed 32% of users achieved a clinically meaningful increase in time in range of 3% or more.
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