In brief: CQRC’s bid concerns, NCPA’s latest PBM push, AAH's new leaders
By HME News Staff
Updated 11:07 AM CDT, Fri July 11, 2025
WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) is concerned that Medicare’s proposed competitive bidding program could have substantial negative consequences on patient access and quality of care. The council says it's time to pass reform that permanently removes the supplemental oxygen benefit from the program.
“While we continue to review the proposed rule to understand its full impact and scope, the CQRC is deeply concerned the methodology proposed by CMS could impede patient access to life-sustaining supplemental oxygen,” said Robin Menchen, CQRC hair. “CQRC greatly appreciates CMS’s previous decision to pause the CBP and encourages the agency to carefully consider flaws in the previous CBP model that resulted in below-market rates, drastically lower reimbursement and restricted patient access to modalities of care that help our most at-risk beneficiaries.”
“Proposals that prioritize government savings over patient needs will only exacerbate access issues already well documented in peer-reviewed research under the prior bidding model,” she continued. “Additionally, the decision to reinstate competitive bidding for oxygen therapies underscores the critical importance of passing the SOAR Act this year to ensure supplemental oxygen equipment and supplies remain available.”
CQRC strongly supports the bipartisan Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (S. 1406/H.R. 2902) – also championed by patient, patient advocacy, disease and physician groups nationwide – which would remove oxygen from the competitive bidding program and eliminate the barrier Medicare rates have created for patients seeking access to liquid oxygen.
In addition, the SOAR Act would strengthen fraud and abuse policies, implement patient protections, support access to respiratory therapy services, and strengthen access to supplemental oxygen care in rural and underserved communities.
“CQRC will provide formal comments to CMS to ensure patient access is protected and lessons learned from previous rounds of competitive bidding are applied in the final rule,” said Menchen. “Simultaneously, we will continue working with our coalition partners and champions in Congress to secure passage of the SOAR Act in the 119th Congress to permanently remove oxygen from future rounds of competitive bidding.”
PBM reform legislation reintroduced
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A dozen lawmakers have introduced a comprehensive pharmacy benefit manager reform package in the House of Representatives.
The “PBM Reform Act” includes all the reforms that were included, but did not pass, in the original continuing resolution package from December 2024:
- The “Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act,” which bans spread pricing in Medicaid and ensures pharmacies are fairly and adequately reimbursed for serving Medicaid beneficiaries;
- The “Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act,” which establishes new requirements for PBMs under Medicare Part D, including a policy to delink PBM compensation from the cost of medications and increase transparency;
- The “PBM Accountability Act,” which promotes price transparency for prescription drugs purchased by employer health plans by ensuring PBMs provide group health plans and issuers with detailed data on prescription drug spending at least semi-annually; and
- The “NO PBMs Act,” which requires CMS to define and enforce “reasonable and relevant” Medicare Part D contract terms from PBM/insurer to pharmacy – including reimbursement.
“As PBMs continue manipulating drug pricing, extinguishing their competition, and raking in massive profits, patients and pharmacies are suffering,” said B. Douglas Hoey, CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association. “We need help, and we need it quickly. Systemic changes like those in the PBM Reform Act must pass and be enacted as soon as possible. We’re grateful for this bill’s introduction and will do everything we can to push it across the finish line.”
The legislation was introduced by Reps. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Greg Murphy, R-N.C., Deborah Ross, D-N.C., Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, Rick Allen, R-Ga., Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., John Rose, R-Tenn., Derek Tran, D-Calif., and Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y.
AAHomecare members approve leadership
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare’s membership has re-elected Josh Marx, CEO, Medical Service Company in Cleveland, as chairman of the board. Other officers approved include:
- Vice chairman: Ryan Bullock, COO, Aeroflow Inc., Asheville, N.C.
- Treasurer: Bill Guidetti, executive vice president sales & operations, officer, Apria Healthcare, Oceanport, N.J.
AAHomecare members also elected six individuals to at-large board seats for three-year terms (2025-28) as recommended by the association’s nominating committee:
- Rob Boeye, commercial leader, Parachute Health, Cumming, Ga.
- Nick Knowlton, vice president of business development, Brightree, Traverse City, Mich.
- Mickae Lee, senior manager, government affairs, Permobil, Webster, N.Y.
- Bill Shoop, CEO, React Health, Oakmont, Pa.
- David Siegel, CEO, Nationwide Medical, Las Vegas
- Steve Wakser, senior vice president of sales, North and South America, Drive DeVilbiss, Mount Pleasant, S.C.
“Now more than ever, we need leaders who can inspire and unite the HME community to meet today’s challenges and help shape a better future for our companies, our employees, and the patients we serve,” said Tom Ryan, president & CEO of AAHomecare. "We’re fortunate to have an insightful, experienced and committed group to guide our association and advocate for this industry as we face the return of the competitive bidding program and work to engage new leaders in the administration and on Capitol Hill.”
The full list of board leaders for AAHomecare can be found here.
AAHomecare gears up for bid response
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare’s regulatory council will meet next week to begin developing official comments and strategy for mobilizing the HME Industry to provide a strong comment response on CMS’s proposed rule for competitive bidding. The association is also beginning outreach to members of Congress and staff about the proposed rule and the program. “We’ve had success in enlisting Capitol Hill to help shape regulatory policy – including the bidding program – through legislation, sign-on letters and direct engagement with the agency,” stated the association. Among industry stakeholders biggest concerns: CMS is proposing to include continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and supplies as part of a new Remote Item Delivery (RID) CBP. The agency is also proposing to specify that ostomy, tracheostomy and urological supplies are medical equipment items mandated for inclusion under the RID CBP, despite their exclusion from the original statute governing the competitive bidding program. Comments on the proposed rule are due Aug. 29.
- Related: CMS signals potential big changes to bid program
- Related: ‘We know the headwind’: Stakeholders react to return of competitive bidding
- Related: Flawed from the beginning’: Revival of bidding program raises alarms
HME expands product line with manual wheelchair
RICHMOND, B.C. – HME Home Health has launched the HME Signature Series Rigid Manual Wheelchair, the 17th product in the award-winning line. “HME is committed to bringing high-quality, innovative rehab solutions to the market,” said Robert Boscacci, CEO and co-founder. “The HME Signature Series Rigid Manual Wheelchair is a partnership with leading custom manufacturer Hands-On Concepts for a fully custom wheelchair for the experienced wheelchair user.” Customizable features include frame angles, center of gravity placement, front and seat taper options, frame bends, footrest and back frame options, and clothing guard options. The HME Signature Series was first launched in 2020. In June, HME won the BC Care Provider’s Safety Product Innovation Award for the second time in three years, for its HME Paraglide Repositioning System. In 2023, it won for the HME Signature Series Dove Mattress.
Mattel launches Barbie with Type 1 diabetes, CGM
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Mattel is debuting the first Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). This addition enables more children to see themselves reflected in Barbie and encourages doll play that extends beyond a child’s own lived experience, thereby fostering a greater sense of inclusion and empathy – all pillars of the Barbie brand’s mission, the company says. “Introducing a Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation,” said Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls. “Barbie helps shape children’s early perceptions of the world, and by reflecting medical conditions like T1D, we ensure more kids can see themselves in the stories they imagine and the dolls they love.” To ensure the doll design truly captures the community, Barbie partnered with Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), the leading global research and advocacy organization for Type 1 diabetes and its complications. The Barbie features a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and an insulin pump. In continued partnership with Breakthrough T1D, Barbie donated dolls to the Breakthrough T1D 2025 Children's Congress. The biennial event, July 7-9, brings 170 children living with Type 1 diabetes, ages 4-17, to Washington, D.C., to meet face-to-face with members of Congress.
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