Access to Durable Medical Equipment in Competitive Bidding Areas

In an effort to reduce waste, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 updated Medicare's payment system for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) from a fee schedule to a competitive bidding program. Under this program, DMEPOS suppliers compete on price to supply particular geographic areas. Anecdotal reports allege that competitive bidding has led to reduced access to DMEPOS and, in turn, compromised the quality of care that beneficiaries receive. We will determine the effects of the competitive bidding program on Medicare beneficiaries' access to certain types of DMEPOS subject to competitive bidding.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
Completed	Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services	Access to Durable Medical Equipment in Competitive Bidding Areas	Office of Evaluation and Inspections	OEI-01-15-00040 ; OEI-01-15-00041 ; OEI-01-15-00042	2017, 2018