Lawmakers tout measures to ease costs for wheelchairs, oxygen and DME suppliers

Unidentified Speaker described several measures in the durable medical equipment (DME) space. On HR 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, the speaker said Joyce (PA) “creates a new billing code to improve Medicare coverage for ultra lightweight wheelchairs, particularly those made from titanium or carbon fiber,” allowing Medicare to cover a portion of the upgrade cost upfront to reduce beneficiaries' out-of-pocket burden.

The statement also introduced HR 2005, the DME POS / Demipos Relief Act (Representative Miller Meeks, IA), intended “to establish a fair rate for DME supplies” and to mitigate supplier strain from competitive bidding, which the speaker described as a process where suppliers bid to be the sole contractor in areas and winning bid prices determine reimbursement.

On HR 2902 (Representative Vallejo, CA), Unidentified Speaker said the bill “removes supplemental oxygen and its supplies from the competitive bidding program and creates a new reimbursement rate for supplemental and liquid oxygen.” The committee also previewed HR 2477 to provide Medicare reimbursement for portable ultrasound transportation and services.

The opening statement did not record witness testimony or a vote. The speaker said these bills are being advanced toward a markup, indicating the committee will consider them further with witnesses.