For the millions of American’s across the country who have Medicare as their primary health insurance Medicare’s Competitive bid program has significantly changed their access to DME (durable medical equipment). Sadly most Medicare beneficiary’s are unaware how Medicare’s competitive bid program will effect their access to medical equipment and supplies, and even more have never heard of Medicare’s competitive bid program. In this article I will dive into the following;
- What is Medicare’s Competitive Bid Program
- What medical equipment/supplies is covered
- Where To Get DME Equipment If You Live in a Competitive Bid City
What is Medicare’s Competitive Bid Program?
The DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program was mandated by Congress through the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. The main reason for this act was to greatly reduce Medicare reimbursement rates for DME equipment, and prescription drugs. By doing this Medicare would pass on the saving’s to their beneficiary’s by reducing out-of-pocket expenses while ensuring that beneficiaries would still received the same quality equipment and services.
In order to accomplish these cost savings Medicare initiated the competitive bid program which allowed Medical Supply companies to bid on different durable medical equipment categories with the lowest bidders receiving the contract to supply.
What Medical Equipment/Supplies Is Covered Under Medicare’s Competitive Bid Program
When Medicare originally launched its competitive bid program the first product to be included was diabetic testing equipment including test strips, lancets, and blood glucose meters. Since then Medicare as added hundreds of different durable medical equipment, and home medical equipment to the list. The following medical equipment and supplies fall under Medicare’s competitive bid program.
- Diabetic Supplies (Test Stripes, Meters)
Enteral Nutrients, Equipment and Supplies - Hospital Beds
- Patient Lifts
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Devices
- Oxygen Equipment and Supplies
- TENS Devices and Supplie
Where To Get DME Equipment If You Live In a Competitive Bid City
If you are a Medicare beneficiary and happen to live in city that is part of Medicare’s Competitive bid program then getting your medical equipment and supplies is not as easy as just walking into your local medical equipment supplier’s store. In order to have medicare cover the purchase or rental of your medical equipment such as a walker, hospital bed, or wheelchair you have to go through a competitive bid winning provider. Depending on what kind of equipment or supplies you need there may be as little as one supplier in your area or 25 suppliers to choose from.
The best way to find a supplier in your area is by going to Medicares DME Supplier Directory and entering your zip code.
Once you enter your zip code you will be brought to a page like the one below.
All product categories that you see with a star next it are only available through a competitive bid winning provider. Just select the type of medical equipment or supplies you need and you will be taken to a page with a list of providers and there contact information like the page below
Depending on the type of medical equipment or supplies you are looking for their may be a supplier located in your town if not many suppliers offer in home delivery just make sure to ask if their is a delivery charge and how much it will be.
Conclusion
While medicare’s competitive bid program has changed the way you as a Medicare beneficiary get the medical equipment you need, not all dme equipment is included in medicare’s competitive bid program and not all cities are affected. If you live in a non competitive bid city you are still able to get your medical equipment and supplies from any Medicare approved supplier. If you have a question or would like to add something to this topic leave a comment below or contact me directly at aaron@csamedicalsupply.com
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