News
Small supplier networks face steep hurdles in next bid round
June 12, 2026Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – There may be strength in numbers, but the logistics of smaller suppliers submitting bids as part of a network in the next round of Medicare’s competitive bidding program (CBP) may be too prohibitive, says health care attorney Jeff Baird.
In the next round of CBP, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement a nationwide Remote Item Delivery (RID) program that effectively shuts out smaller, independent suppliers.
“The goal of CMS that at...
In brief: CPAP’s adherence assumption, CGM’s benefits, Shaq’s sleep apnea
June 12, 2026HME News Staff
ORLANDO, Fla. – Many insurers stop covering continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices if patients don’t use them regularly in the first 90 days. But new research presented at the ATS 2026 International Conference shows that many patients who initially struggle to meet these early-use thresholds do go on to use and benefit from CPAP therapy.
The findings challenge long-held assumptions that poor early use predicts long-term CPAP use, said first author Dennis Hwang, MD, a sleep...
New research questions Medicare’s 90-day rule for CPAP adherence
June 11, 2026HME News Staff
ORLANDO, Fla. – Many insurers stop covering continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices if patients don’t use them regularly in the first 90 days. But new research presented at the ATS 2026 International Conference shows that many patients who initially struggle to meet these early-use thresholds do go on to use and benefit from CPAP therapy.
The findings challenge long-held assumptions that poor early use predicts long-term CPAP use, said first author Dennis Hwang, MD, a sleep...
Study: CGM use lowers A1C in adults with Type 2 diabetes
June 11, 2026HME News Staff
NEW ORLEANS – Adults with Type 2 diabetes who are on of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) but who are not on insulin saw substantially reduced hyperglycemia, resulting in a large reduction in A1C compared with a routine care control group, according to new researchers presented at the 2026 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in New Orleans.
The study found that CGM was associated with a substantial reduction in hyperglycemia, resulting in a 0.9% greater...
In brief: WOY named, SBA listening session, CMS Medicaid expenditures
June 10, 2026HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa — Lisa Wells has been named 2026 HME Woman of the Year.
Wells, senior vice president of Med-South, was honored during a special ceremony at the VGM Heartland Conference.
“Lisa represents the very best of our industry,” said Jeremy Stolz, CEO of VGM Group, Inc. “Her commitment to patient care, her influence in advancing policy and best practices, and the way she invests in developing others make her an outstanding leader and a truly deserving recipient...
Lisa Wells named WOY
June 9, 2026HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa — Lisa Wells has been named 2026 HME Woman of the Year.
Wells, senior vice president of Med-South, was honored during a special ceremony at the VGM Heartland Conference.
“Lisa represents the very best of our industry,” said Jeremy Stolz, CEO of VGM Group, Inc. “Her commitment to patient care, her influence in advancing policy and best practices, and the way she invests in developing others make her an outstanding leader and a truly deserving recipient...
SBA to host CMS, AAHomecare for listening session on competitive bidding program
June 8, 2026HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The Office of Advocacy within the U.S. Small Business Administration will host a virtual listening session on June 23 on the next round of Medicare’s competitive bidding program (CBP).
The office stated:
CMS believes the rule’s competitive bidding program supports its responsibility to prevent Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse by keeping unqualified providers out of the Medicare program. Advocacy seeks comments on alternative solutions from small business stakeholders.
The...
Lilly’s investigational GLP-1 reduces AHI by up to 36 events per hour in OSA patients
June 8, 2026HME News Staff
INDIANAPOLIS – Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound and Foundayo, has announced positive results from Phase 3 trials of retatrutide, an investigational GLP-1, showing substantial weight loss along with meaningful improvements across knee osteoarthritis pain, moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, and Type 2 diabetes – common obesity-related conditions.
"Obesity drives more than 200 downstream diseases, yet we have historically treated those conditions one at a time and in silos,"...
In brief: VGM’s new collab, Kalogon’s funding, Medline’s milestone
June 5, 2026HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa — VGM & Associates has launched a collaboration with Resmed to help home medical equipment (HME) providers strengthen their sleep therapy programs. By combining VGM’s expanding Total Sleep Services offering with Resmed’s connected sleep health capabilities, the two companies say they create a more connected path from diagnosis to long-term therapy adherence.
The collaboration brings together VGM’s member community and category expertise with Resmed’s...
CMS kicks off bid preparation with non-lead items, bid limits and more
June 5, 2026HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has shared a list of non-lead items and their ratios to lead items in a new bidding calculator on the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) website, AAHomecare reports.
The information is part of a large set of shared resources shared on the CBIC website kicking off “Phase 1: Bid Preparation for Round 2028” of the competitive bidding program (CBP).
The resources also include a list of product categories...