Speak Out to Protect Access to Home Medical Equipment Before It’s Too Late
Medicare is proposing to restart a flawed Competitive Bidding Program (CBP) for home medical equipment (HME) and supplies—a move that could drastically reduce patient access to essential care.
This program would award contracts to the lowest-bidding suppliers, regardless of whether their bid reflects the real cost of providing safe, reliable, and high-quality care. In the past, CBP:
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Excluded 75% of suppliers from serving patients
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Led to 37% of HME locations closing nationwide
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Left patients with fewer choices, longer wait times, or no access at all
Medicare now wants to bring CBP back with changes that could make things even worse—and because many Medicaid programs and private insurers follow Medicare’s lead, these changes could affect everyone, not just Medicare beneficiaries.
The public comment period is open until August 29, 2025. This is your chance to make your voice heard.
Why This Matters
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Choice matters: Contracts may go to as few as two companies per area, leaving no backup if one fails.
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Experience matters: Some bidders may have no history providing the products or serving your area—learning “on the job” with your health at stake.
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Local presence matters: Distant suppliers can’t respond quickly during emergencies or natural disasters.
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Sustainable payments matter: 1 in 4 contracted suppliers will be paid below even their own bid price—risking cuts in service, product quality, and support.
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Community access matters: Each closure of a local supplier leaves an entire community without care, driving up hospitalizations and nursing home admissions.
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Product access matters: Ill-fitting or low-quality products can cause serious complications, ER visits, and hospital stays.
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Safeguards matter: The new proposal removes previous protections without testing the impact on patient safety.
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Support services matter: Access to equipment is not enough—patients need training, education, and ongoing service.
What You Can Do
Medicare officials won’t know the real impact unless they hear from people who live it. Your personal story is powerful. When submitting a comment, consider sharing:
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What HME or supplies you or a loved one rely on
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How your supplier supports your care and health
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Any challenges you’ve faced getting equipment in past CBP rounds
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How reduced choice or losing your supplier would affect you
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Your biggest concerns about the proposed program
Key Recommendations to Include in Your Comment
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Ensure there are enough experienced, reliable suppliers to meet demand
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Don’t count inexperienced or speculative companies toward capacity
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Avoid artificially capping prices that don’t reflect the real costs of care
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Don’t expand product categories until the redesigned program has been tested
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Increase transparency and opportunities for patient and stakeholder input
How to Submit Your Comment
Deadline: August 29, 2025
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Visit the Medicare comment page for the proposed rule (link here)
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Click the green “Submit a Public Comment” button
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Enter your comment (or upload a file)
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Select “An Individual” or “Anonymous” under “Tell Us About Yourself”
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Check the box confirming you’ve read the statement
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Click “Submit Comment”
Bottom line: Competitive Bidding might save Medicare money, but it risks putting lives on the line by cutting patient access to essential equipment and trusted care providers. Your story could help protect access for millions—now is the time to speak up.
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