The product categories for the next round of Medicare competitive bidding will look very different from what industry veterans are accustomed to seeing. According to a Dec. 9 bulletin from the American Association of Homecare (AAHomecare), “legacy product categories,” including oxygen, standard wheelchairs, CPAP systems, hospital beds “and others included in previous bidding rounds will…
Final Rule Follow-Up: ‘Legacy’ Product Categories Out of Competitive Bidding’s Next Round
Telehealth Update: Industry Organizations Comment on Latest Extension, 2025 Wins
While the latest continuing resolution provided another extension, a permanent telehealth option remains elusive.
Telehealth proved its efficacy during the heart of the COVID-19 public health emergency, when hospitals and clinics sharply limited in-person appointments, but wheelchairs and seating provision for Medicare beneficiaries still needed to move forward. The telehealth option isn’t the answer in every situation: It’s not a good fit where internet connections are unreliable or when…
ISWP Seeks to Raise $250K for Wheelchair Impact Fund
The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals supports wheelchair professional education worldwide.
As 2025 winds down, the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) is seeking donations to its Wheelchair Impact Fund, which supports wheelchair provision worldwide. “Appropriate wheelchair provision requires inclusive policies, access to a range of appropriate products, trained providers, comprehensive procurement systems, and real participation from wheelchair users,” ISWP Executive Director Alex Kamadu said in…
CMS Final Rule Restarts Competitive Bidding, Requires Annual DMEPOS Accreditation
Urological, ostomy and tracheostomy supplies were deemed to be appropriate for Medicare competitive bidding.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) home health calendar year 2026 final rule revives Medicare’s controversial competitive bidding program and requires annual accreditation for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers who bill Medicare. The long-awaited final rule was published on Nov. 28. Accreditation to become an annual requirement Accreditation, which…
Briefly: CMS Announces Medicare Part B Premium, Deductible; New Mobility Seeks a Print Return
Featuring the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and United Spinal Association.
CMS Announces Medicare Part B Premium, Deductible Increases for 2026 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $202.90 in 2026. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $283. That’s an increase of $17.90 for the monthly…
HHS to Open $2M Contest for Caregiver AI Support
The number of caregivers in the United States has grown by 45% in the last decade, AARP estimates.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has announced a $2 million Caregiver Artificial Intelligence Prize Competition to support people who care for seniors and people living with disabilities. “This initiative through HHS’s Administration for Community Living (ACL) recognizes the millions of caregivers who support aging relatives and loved ones with disabilities,” HHS…
AAHomecare, VGM Seek Grassroots Accountability Project Volunteers
GAP advocates will bring industry issues to their specific members of Congress.
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) and VGM & Associates are partnering on the Grassroots Accountability Project (GAP) — and as the project’s name suggests, they are seeking advocacy volunteers. In a Nov. 19 bulletin, AAHomecare described GAP as “an initiative focused on strengthening the HME [home medical equipment] industry’s presence on Capitol Hill. We…
Updated Urological Supplies LCD Includes SCI Revision
The change impacts eligibility for sterile catheter kits.
The updated urological supplies local coverage determination (LCD) published by the Medicare DME MAC contractors includes a significant change for patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). The LCD was published Nov. 13, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026. “The LCD incorporates finalized revisions, as a result of the LCD reconsideration process and written…
Adaptive Outdoor Education Center Joins United Spinal as New Chapter
The association’s latest addition has campuses in Maine.
Adaptive Outdoor Education Center (AOEC), based in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, has become United Spinal Association’s latest chapter. In a Nov. 14 announcement, United Spinal said, “There are few things as empowering as learning how to navigate the outdoors as a wheelchair user. After you’ve figured out how to slide down a snowy mountain, traverse a…
ISS Opens Registration, Announces Lineup for 2026 Virtual Professional Summit
The ISS:VPS will take place on Jan. 28 and Feb. 25, 2026.
The University of Pittsburgh’s International Seating Symposium (ISS) team has opened registration for its 2026 Virtual Professional Summit (VPS), a two-day program in February and March. The ISS:VPS “will feature presentations by rising stars and industry veterans alike, sharing their expertise in seating and mobility,” the University of Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Science and Technology Continuing Education…