In brief: Moratorium ends, VGM releases playbook, ABC Medical celebrates
By HME News Staff
Updated 11:27 AM CDT, Fri August 28, 2026
WASHINGTON – The six-month temporary moratorium on accepting Medicare supplier enrollment applications, which became effective on Feb. 27, 2026, has now expired as of Aug. 27, 2026.
The National Provider Enrollment (NPE) Contractors are once again accepting initial enrollment applications from durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers.
If you are planning to bid in Round 2028 of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program (CBP), you should submit any completed enrollment applications as soon as possible to provide the Medicare Enrollment Contractors maximum time to process your application before the DMEPOS CBP Round 2028 bidding window opens.
Please keep the following in mind:
- Delays in submitting your application may result in your application not being processed in time for the DMEPOS CBP Round 2028 bidding window.
- Ensure that all required documentation is complete and accurate to avoid processing delays.
Next Steps
- Submit all enrollment application information to ensure you are eligible to bid in Round 2028 as soon as possible.
- Verify that your application includes all required supporting documentation.
- Monitor your application status through the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) or contact your respective Medicare Enrollment Contractor for status updates.
Additional information regarding the DMEPOS CBP Round 2028 bidding process, including key dates and requirements, will be made available on the CBIC website in the coming weeks.
Hike Medical raises $22.5M
SAN FRANCISCO – Hike Medical, an automated referral platform, has raised $22.5 million in seed and Series A funding to reimagine the entire supply chain for orthotics and prosthetics and durable medical equipment (DME), so more people can access the care that keeps them moving.
"Patients shouldn't have to wait weeks for a device because the systems behind their care don't talk to each other," said Bhanti. "Being part of a family that's touched this industry for three generations means we have a duty to make it better. We've proven this model in custom foot orthotics, making the process faster, more accurate and built around the patient instead of the paperwork. Now we're taking it across the rest of device-based care. At the end of the day, we're engineering human movement."
The round was led by Max Altman at Saga Ventures, with additional participation from Indicator Ventures, Fifth Down Capital, RiverPark Ventures and other funds, strategic investor and commercial partner Orthofeet, Inc., and angel investors such as Monaco CEO Sam Blond and Super Bowl champion and former head coach of the New England Patriots Jerod Mayo.
Hike’s platform connects back-office, point-of-care and device fabrication for O&P, podiatry and DME providers, serving as an all-in-one solution for device-based care, including:
- Hike Intelligence – AI agents that process a referral automatically and fight to get it approved and paid, before a doctor ever sees the patient — freeing clinicians to spend that time on patient care instead of paperwork.
- Hike Clinical – lets clinicians scan, document and order devices in one workflow at the point of care; a scan from any mobile device is enough to produce a highly accurate custom insole, replacing legacy foam boxes and standalone lidar scanners.
- Hike Lab – manufactures custom devices in-house at the largest orthotic 3D print farm in the country, based in Peoria, Ill., with turnaround in about five business days.
The new investment will build on that momentum, funding hiring across engineering and sales roles in San Francisco and manufacturing in Peoria, as Hike expands the platform beyond insoles to serve the broader DME market.
"The next generation of category-defining companies won’t just build software on top of broken industries. They’ll own the entire value chain, end to end, like Hike does," said Max Altman, co‐founder and managing partner at Saga Ventures. "Full vertical integration is what it takes to recreate a business at scale in healthcare. We’re backing Hike to do this across the entire device market. Aadi and the team have the ability to own the entire category."
VGM releases playbook on emerging markets
WATERLOO, Iowa — VGM & Associates has launched its latest playbook, “VGM Playbook: Emerging Markets and How to Expand Your Business." It is designed to help VGM members identify new growth opportunities, diversify revenue streams, and expand their impact in the non-acute healthcare landscape. "Growth in the non-acute space often comes from looking at your business differently," said Lindy Tentinger, president of VGM & Associates. "This playbook was created to help VGM members identify opportunities that align with their strengths, address unmet patient needs, strengthen referral relationships, and support long-term sustainability for their business and the future of patient care." The playbook explores growth opportunities in pediatrics, respiratory and sleep, home accessibility, maternity care, and mobile orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) services. It also provides guidance on evaluating market potential, leveraging data to inform business decisions, and assessing readiness for expansion.
Members can download their copy at vgm.com/playbook or by logging in to the VGM members-only portal and downloading it from the Playbook tab.
ABC Medical, Oxygen & Scrubs Celebrates 21 years
HUDSON, FL — ABC Medical, Oxygen & Scrubs is proud to announce its 21st anniversary as a supplier of medical equipment, respiratory products, mobility solutions and professional scrubs in Pasco and Hernando counties. For more than two decades, the family-owned ABC Medical has remained committed to providing outstanding, compassionate, and expert care. As the largest medical equipment and scrub superstore in the region, their spacious 9,000-square-foot showroom in Hudson allows customers to shop safely and comfortably while exploring an extensive inventory of healthcare and medical solutions. “Serving our local community for 21 years has been an absolute honor,” said Carol Acevedo, RN, CEO of ABC Medical, Oxygen & Scrubs. “We take pride in offering a warm, hands-on retail environment where customers can try equipment, consult with knowledgeable staff, and get immediate, expert solutions.”
Abbott gets FDA clearance for dual sensing technology
ABBOTT PARK, Ill. – Abbott has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization of its Libre Duo 10 Day system, a dual glucose ketone sensing technology. The new biowearable is designed to alert people living with diabetes of rising ketones that can lead to a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) emergency, a serious health complication for people with diabetes. "As a physician, I see how quickly DKA can develop—and how often early warning signs or opportunities to measure ketones are missed," said Jennifer Sherr, M.D., Ph.D., pediatric endocrinologist at Yale School of Medicine. "Abbott's dual glucose-ketone system is meaningful because ketone data is collected in the background, helping provide earlier awareness of rising ketone levels." Libre Duo 10 Day delivers real-time visibility into glucose levels needed for daily diabetes management while also monitoring rising ketones in the background, avoiding additional mental or physical burden for people with diabetes. "If glucose is the speedometer, ketones are like the check engine light—providing an alert that something may need attention," said Chris Scoggins, executive vice president of Abbott's diabetes care business. "Libre Duo 10 Day brings both glucose and ketone levels together in a single dashboard, providing a more complete picture to help people with diabetes make more informed decisions." Abbott plans to launch Libre Duo 10 Day in the United States later this year.
VGM Insurance offers bid surety bonds
WATERLOO, Iowa — VGM Insurance is ready to provide the $100,000 bid surety bond required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the upcoming DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Round 2028. While VGM Insurance facilitates DMEPOS bid bonds, the bonds are issued through Lexon Insurance Company, VGM Insurance's surety carrier partner. "At VGM Insurance, our priority is helping members and industry partners navigate complex industry requirements with practical, reliable solutions," said Jim Nygren, president of VGM Insurance. "While we continue advocating for improvements to the Competitive Bidding Program, we are pleased to offer access to CMS-approved surety products that meet both Bid Bond and DMEPOS surety bond requirements. We encourage providers to submit their bid bond requests now, so our team is ready to provide prompt support as soon as CMS releases final guidance."
The bid window is expected to open in late fall 2026. Suppliers who prepare early can avoid last-minute delays and be positioned to submit their bids as soon as CMS releases final guidance.
Providers interested in obtaining a Round 2028 bid surety bond are encouraged to submit their request now.
NCPA creates new executive role to facilitate strategic growth
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has named Sara Roszak as its senior vice president of the office of the CEO. In this newly established role, Roszak’s responsibilities will include strategic execution of association-wide initiatives in conjunction with others on the executive leadership team; CEO-level strategic support and advisement; shaping programs, partnerships and initiatives that strengthen community pharmacy; and spearheading the organization’s AI strategy and its implementation. “We’re excited to welcome Sara to NCPA and to independent pharmacy,” says NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist. “At this time of continued change both in the pharmacy industry and in trade association operations, her background will help us turn our priorities and initiatives into measurable outcomes, generate new ideas, and create a smarter, more efficient future. I look forward to seeing how Sara’s experience shapes this new position at NCPA as we work together to grow the organization and the industry we represent.” Roszak previously served in several roles at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and its foundation, most recently as senior vice president of health and wellness strategy and policy at NACDS and as president of the NACDS Foundation. In her role at NACDS, she worked with leadership and others to strengthen pharmacy’s role in community-based care and health care access, leading initiatives that spanned industry, government, and health care stakeholders; advised policy, regulatory strategy, and industry transformation issues; and represented the organization in external engagements with federal stakeholders and national partners.
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