Tag: Medicare
Medicare spending projected to surge, outpace economic growth
June 23, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Medicare expenditures are projected to grow significantly faster than both aggregate worker earnings and the overall U.S. economy, according to the 2025 Annual Report from the Boards of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance (HI) and Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Funds.
Key findings from the 2025 Medicare Trustees Report
Medicare spending as a share of GDP is expected to rise from 3.8% in 2024 to 6.7% by 2099.
Under an...
‘Flawed from the beginning’: Revival of bidding program raises alarms
June 20, 2025Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine – After several years of wondering if they will or won’t, CMS has signaled its intent to restart the Medicare competitive bidding program. It’s an unwelcome and surprising development for 71% of respondents to a recent HME Newspoll.
The Department of Health and Human Services on May 30 released a FY 2026 Budget in Brief that earmarked $22 million for the program.
“I am disappointed they’ve reinstated this program that was clearly flawed...
In brief: CQRC urges caution, ASAA rebrands, Dr. Oz turns 65
June 13, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – While it commends the Trump Administration for finalizing a National Coverage Determination (NCD) for “Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) in the Home for the Treatment of Chronic Respiratory Failure consequent to COPD,” the Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) is concerned about its quick implementation and potential access issues.
The effective date of the final NCD is the date of publication, but the CQRC continues to urge CMS to provide...
Dr. Oz launches Medicare enrollment series
June 11, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, who turns 65 today, is using his own Medicare enrollment experience to help Americans better understand how to sign up for Medicare and select the coverage that best fits their needs. Through a new video and social media series, Dr. Oz is walking future enrollees through simple steps they can take to get started—beginning with Medicare.gov. “Millions of Americans become eligible for Medicare each year, and this year, I’m one of...
‘We know the headwind’: Stakeholders react to return of competitive bidding
June 6, 2025Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – The home medical equipment industry is bracing for updates on the next round of Medicare’s national competitive bidding program, with a proposed rule expected in July 2025. A key concern among stakeholders is what changes CMS may introduce to the bid submission, evaluation and selection process.
The most recent round of the competitive bidding program included several significant changes, many influenced by industry feedback. These included changing the...
DMERx CEO convicted in $1B fraud scheme
June 5, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Federal authorities have convicted Gary Cox, 79, CEO of Power Mobility Doctor Rx (DMERx), for orchestrating a $1 billion Medicare fraud scheme involving false doctor orders for medically unnecessary equipment like braces and treatments. Cox and his co-conspirators misled seniors into providing personal information through deceptive advertising and offshore call centers, then used DMERx—a digital platform—to create fraudulent prescriptions. These orders were exchanged...
CMS awards RAC contracts to Cotiviti
June 4, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – CMS in April named Cotiviti GOV Services the new Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) for Region 3, 4 and 5. These three contracts, awarded through a competitive procurement process, will support post-pay review of Medicare claims in these regions to efficiently identify and correct overpayments and underpayments made to health care providers with a focus on the quality, accuracy and transparency of reviews, the recovery of improper payments and the reduction of provider burden, Cotiviti...
In brief: Possible Medicare cut, Walmart MA initiative, BraunAbility testimony
May 30, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Legislation passed May 22 by the House of Representatives contains provisions that could impact home medical equipment, including a possible 4% cut in Medicare reimbursement, says AAHomecare.
The association’s analysis of the 1,116-page bill – H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – includes:
Medicare
The cut to Medicare reimbursement rates across the full spectrum of health care providers is automatically triggered by...
Legislative package includes impacts to HME
May 29, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Legislation passed May 22 by the House of Representatives contains provisions that could impact home medical equipment, including a possible 4% cut in Medicare reimbursement, says AAHomecare.
The association’s analysis of the 1,116-page bill – H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – includes:
Medicare
The cut to Medicare reimbursement rates across the full spectrum of health care providers is automatically triggered by...
CMS: Gov't must be ‘catalyst’ to digital health
May 14, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – CMS, in partnership with the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC), seeks public input on how best to advance a seamless, secure and patient-centered digital health infrastructure.
The goal is to unlock the power of modern technology to help seniors and their families take control of their health and well-being, manage chronic conditions and access care more efficiently, the agency says.
“We...