CMS has announced it will pilot its competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment in 91 additional major metropolitan areas after its initial one-year pilot in nine cities saved the program approximately $202.1 million with no negative health impacts on hospitalizations and other metrics.
CMS' competitive bidding program for DME aims to lower costs by requiring suppliers to bid for Medicare Part B contracts. Seniors could save an average of 45 percent on certain equipment, totaling as much as $17.1 billion in savings to beneficiaries and $25.7 billion to the Medicare Part B trust fund over the next 10 years.
The expansion will begin July 1 and will monitor beneficiaries' health outcomes to determine whether there is a negative impact from the bidding program. CMS said more than half of the winning suppliers will be small businesses.
CMS Set to Expand Competitive Bidding Program
Private Medicare Plans Show Signs of Cost-Control Despite Democrats' Criticism
CMS' competitive bidding program for DME aims to lower costs by requiring suppliers to bid for Medicare Part B contracts. Seniors could save an average of 45 percent on certain equipment, totaling as much as $17.1 billion in savings to beneficiaries and $25.7 billion to the Medicare Part B trust fund over the next 10 years.
The expansion will begin July 1 and will monitor beneficiaries' health outcomes to determine whether there is a negative impact from the bidding program. CMS said more than half of the winning suppliers will be small businesses.
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Private Medicare Plans Show Signs of Cost-Control Despite Democrats' Criticism