WASHINGTON, D.C. – As AAHomecare shared in its Dec. 20 alert, CMS has published the much-awaited CY 2024 DMEPOS fee schedule. The fee schedule reflects the 2.6%-3% CPI-U adjustments published earlier this month and the removal of the 75/25 relief rates for competitive bidding program (CBP) items in non-rural areas.
AAHomecare’s analysis of the top 25 DME items shows the following average rate changes for CY 2024 compared to rates currently in place:
- CBP items in former CBAs: +2.9% (ranging from +2% to +3%)
- CBP items in non-rural areas: -20.1% (ranging from -46% to +0.3%)
- CBP items in rural areas: +2.6% (ranging from +1.5% to +3%)
Although CMS extended the 50/50 blended rates for CBP items in rural areas, the relief was not made permanent for non-rural areas. Due to the end of the public health emergency (PHE), non-rural areas are no longer in effect starting on January 1, 2024, resulting in a significant rate decrease for most DMEPOS CBP items.
As we’ve noted in previous alerts on the CPI-U adjusted rates, AAHomecare and HME stakeholders continue to advocate for an extension of the 75/25 rates through 2024. Our champions on Capitol Hill are working to have these measures included in government funding and healthcare extender legislation that is expected to be considered before the next funding deadline, Jan. 19. See more about how you can support those efforts.
You can download AAHomecare’s analysis of the new rates for the top 25 HCPCS codes (Excel spreadsheets; read-only format) here: