WASHINGTON, D.C. – AAHomecare has finalized and submitted comments to the CY 2026 DMEPOS/Home Health Proposed Rule. AAHomecare’s comments include recommendations to keep the bid ceiling at the unadjusted 2015 fee schedule and to maintain the current methodology for determining the single payment amount (SPA) at the clearing price—and not move forward with the proposal to establish the SPAs for lead items based on 75th percentile of winning bids.

The comments also ask CMS not to add ostomy, urological, and tracheostomy supplies to the bidding program, as well as excluding liquid oxygen and diabetes products. Find AAHomecare’s official comments here. See the Executive Summary (pages 3-4) for an overview of AAHomecare’s recommendations for the proposed Rule.

CMS Releases NIPPV Coverage Guidance to MACs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – CMS has released the long-awaited clarification on the National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) as used to treat Chronic Respiratory Failure (CRF) Consequent to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The Change Request (CR) released today (Aug. 21) to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) covers initial use and continued coverage criteria for respiratory assist devices (RAD) and home mechanical ventilators (HMV).

The CR announced an implementation date of Oct. 22, 2025.  The DME MACs will use this additional guidance to revise the RAD LCD. AAHomecare has reached out to the DME MACs on the timing of additional guidance. See CMS Change Request 14177 for more information.