WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee hearing examined key issues affecting patient access to Medicare services at last week’s hearing: Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Medicare Services. The hearing covered priority DME legislation and also included discussions on bills related to home infusion therapy, healthcare system efficiency, laboratory testing, and AI‑related Medicare claim denials.
During the hearing, Tom Ryan, AAHomecare president & CEO, raised significant concerns about the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program and answered questions about the flawed program methodology, including how geographies are classified and how prices thwart access by failing to reflect market costs.
Regarding the next round of bidding, Ryan stated, “Even more troubling, CMS intends to reduce the number of suppliers for key product categories to fewer than ten nationwide. That would devastate small businesses and destabilize the national home medical equipment infrastructure that patients rely on. And finally, the proposed bidding methodology will artificially drive payment rates to unsustainable levels, leaving too few suppliers to meet the needs of Medicare beneficiaries.”
Ryan also explained the benefits of proposed legislation including H.R. 2005, DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025; H.R. 1703, Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025; and H.R. 2902, Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act of 2025. He concluded that, “Home medical equipment keeps people safe, independent, and at home — and it saves Medicare money. The three bipartisan bills before you today — H.R. 1703, H.R. 2005, and H.R. 2902 — are practical, targeted solutions that will protect access to care for millions of Medicare beneficiaries.”
A key theme throughout the hearing was that Medicare payment policy doesn’t just set prices; it undermines whether patients can get the care they need, especially in rural communities and for people with complex chronic needs. Members of the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee repeatedly emphasized Ryan’s remarks on data showing that 37% of suppliers have gone out of business since 2013 due to competitive bidding—an alarming trend that illustrates the program’s growing impact on access to DME services and equipment.
AAHomecare looks forward to working with the Health Subcommittee and the full Energy & Commerce Committee to move these bills forward though the markup process.
View the full hearing here — Tom Ryan’s opening remarks start at the 28:53 mark.
- Written testimony and supporting documents can be found here (expand the “View Agenda” tab).
- Ryan’s response to questions can be found at the following points in the hearing: 44:23, 1:33:58, 1:44:02, 1:54:33, 2:22:34, 2:28:50, 2:50:46, 2:55:06, 2:56:46, 2:58:21, and 3:00:16.
