Tag: Round 2 re-compete

SAN JOSE, Calif. - While some providers say the competitive bidding program has hurt their ability to provide quality patient service, Ryan Sampson, operations manager at Hometown Medical Supplies, says he's had the opposite experience.“A lot of companies are concerned about the reimbursement cuts and the level of service they're able to provide to patients,” he said. “We're actually seeing the inverse of that, in that we're able to have a closer relationship with the facilities...

WASHINGTON - The Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor has kicked off “secret shopper” calls to HME providers with Round 2 re-compete bid contracts, according to VGM. The CBIC uses the calls to make sure contract suppliers are serving beneficiaries. Previous rounds of these calls have resulted in termination letters. If a provider receives such a letter, they have an opportunity to submit a correction action plan and/or appeal the termination. So far, there have been no termination...

SAN ANTONIO - With just weeks remaining before the July 1 implementation of Round 2 re-compete contracts, KCI was still in talks with CMS to reconsider its bids for negative pressure wound therapy.“We are in discussions with CMS regarding the reconsideration of our bids,” Cheston Turbyfill, vice president of corporate communications for Acelity, KCI's parent company, told HME News. “We don't have a timeframe.”In a May 19 letter to customers, the company said it was not awarded...

SARASOTA, Fla. - As industry stakeholders continue to pore over the list of Round 2 re-compete contract suppliers, one well-known name missing from the list is Hoveround.In previous rounds of the program, the provider accepted multiple contracts for standard wheelchairs, including contracts in 85% of the competitive bidding areas in the original Round 2; and contracts in all of the Round 1 re-compete areas.The low reimbursement rates in the Round 2 re-compete—on average, mobility providers...

WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders have begun the monumental task of analyzing the newest competitive bid contract suppliers. “We're trying to get a feel for who won the most contracts in what product categories,” said Kim Brummett, vice president of regulatory affairs for AAHomecare.“One of the things we are looking at, since the pricing was lower, are they mostly the big nationals or are we still dealing with mom and pops that won hundreds of contracts.” CMS named...

WASHINGTON - CMS named the contract suppliers for the Round 2 re-compete of competitive bidding at 5:02 p.m. on Thursday. CMS says it has executed 586 contracts, 91% of those offered, for seven product categories. The contract providers have 2,200 locations to serve Medicare beneficiaries in competitive bidding areas. The agency also awarded nine contracts, 100% of those offered, for diabetes supplies as part of its national mail-order program. CMS says 92% of contract suppliers are...

“Hey, Theresa, any idea who won contracts?” asked more than a few providers in recent emails. That, my friends, is the question of the day. And the answer so far is no, for the most part. Two notable exceptions: Aeroflow Healthcare, which has received 645 contract offers for 108 CBAs; and Rotech Healthcare, which has received contract offers for general HME and standard mobility for all 117 CBAs and respiratory equipment in 116 CBAs. Oh, and Inogen also made a big sweep—it got respiratory...

YARMOUTH, Maine - Some mobility providers are telling CMS to take its contracts for the Round 2 re-compete and take a hike, while others are determined to make it work.On average, reimbursement rates for manual wheelchairs will drop another 13.2% as part of the Round 2 re-compete, according to an analysis from AAHomecare. For power wheelchairs, they will drop another 5%.“We were awarded the bid for standard mobility, but I declined it,” said Jeff Hall, president and CEO of Reliable Medical...

YARMOUTH, Maine - With the gears now in motion for the Round 2 re-compete of competitive bidding, M&A analysts expect to see an uptick in activity in the next few months. CMS announced March 15 that it will offer 12,181 contracts to 637 providers as part of this latest round of the program. It plans to announce contract suppliers this spring. “I know of several transactions that will be announced within 30 days of contracts,” said Jonathan Sadock, managing partner with Paragon Ventures....

ORLANDO, Fla. - Rotech Healthcare announced last week that it has received contract offers for general HME and standard mobility for all 117 competitive bidding areas as part of the Round 2 re-compete. The national provider has also received offers for respiratory equipment for 116 CBAs. The offers are a bittersweet, Rotech says. “While we are excited about winning oxygen and CPAP in 116 CBAs, we are also disappointed bid pricing rates continue to reach levels that are devastating...