Stakeholders build foundation for bid delay legislation

WASHINGTON – Industry stakeholders are working behind the scenes on the introduction of two separate bills that would delay competitive bidding for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, and ostomy and urological supplies. 

The current plan is to delay CGMs and insulin pumps in one bill, and ostomy and urological supplies in a second bill – a logical split of the product categories, says Jay Witter, vice president of government relations for AAHomecare.  

“It’s two separate issues, two separate arguments, two separate sets of data,” he said. “The bills are very similar, and we are obviously building support for both and having both passed into law.” 

Prior to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalizing its competitive bidding plans in a rule on Nov. 28, industry stakeholders, lawmakers and patient advocacy groups made extensive efforts to exclude these product categories from the program. 

Laying the groundwork 

AAHomecare has been on Capitol Hill in recent weeks building support for getting the bills introduced as soon as possible, says Witter. Stakeholders have already identified a possible champion to introduce a bill for ostomy and urological supplies, he says. 

Adding to the chorus in Washington, D.C.: Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who at press time was spearheading a congressional sign-on letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz to delay the competitive bidding for ostomy and urological supplies. Other letters may follow, says Witter. 

“I think folks wanted to get something out to the administration early on and set the stage for the legislation,” he said. 

Looping in advocacy groups 

Additionally, AAHomecare has already been in talks with various industry and consumer groups, including United Spinal Association and the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC). They also want to keep these products out of competitive bidding, says Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare. 

“We have tremendous relationships with these groups, and they are anxious to go,” he said. “The sooner the better, because there’s a lot of scared people out there.” 

Putting all hands on deck 

Ryan’s testimony during the Jan. 8 House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing provided the industry with another opportunity to talk up not only several bills pending in Congress – H.R. 2005, DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025; H.R. 1703, Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025; and H.R. 2902, Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act of 2025 – but also the impacts of another round of competitive bidding. 

“With all the challenges of competitive bidding, Medicaid cuts and other headwinds, there is a renewed energy on creating relationships with state and federal legislators,” said Ike Isaacson, senior vice president, government & regulatory relations, for VGM Group. “We need all hands-on deck to raise the visibility of these bills in Congress.”