Medicare-Medicaid agency announces low-cost equipment providers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Monday released the names of the 325 suppliers that have signed contracts with Medicare to provide certain medical equipment and supplies to beneficiaries in Kansas City and nine other communities throughout the country at significantly lower prices than Medicare pays now.

The suppliers were selected based on a competitive bidding process conducted in 10 U.S. metropolitan areas, including Kansas City. The bids were solicted in 10 product categories, which include various types of durable medical equipment, orthotics, prosthetics and supplies.

A list of the selected contract suppliers can be found online.

“We are pleased that Medicare beneficiaries living in the 10 first-round communities will continue to receive high-quality service and supplies from the suppliers participating in Medicare’s competitive bidding program,” CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems said in a release. “All of these contract suppliers have met our stringent standards, so beneficiaries can be assured they receive their equipment and supplies from legitimate suppliers.”

The new competitive bidding program goes into effect on July 1. Because beneficiaries pay 20 percent coinsurance on the cost, they as well as Medicare will directly benefit from the savings.

Based on bids submitted by the selected suppliers, beneficiaries and Medicare will see prices, on average, 26 percent less than Medicare pays for the same items. CMS received bids from 1,005 suppliers. There were just less than 6,200 bids for one or more product categories in competitive bidding areas where the new program is being implemented. CMS offered contracts to 23 percent of suppliers that submitted bids. These suppliers were in the winning price range and met quality and financial standards and disclosure requirements.

Source: Kansas City Business Journal