Round 2021 Details Remain Unknown

With the scheduled bid amounts release date long past, AAHomecare presses CMS for details.

• By David Kopf
• Sep 24, 2020

Despite an email from CBIC that seemed to be a clue that Round 2021 might be moving forward, nothing concrete has actually developed with the next round of competitive bidding, according to the American Association for Homecare. 

Last week, HME suppliers received a CBIC email indicating that Round 2021 “contract offers and disqualification information would soon be provided” in Connexion. The notice encouraged suppliers to ensure their CMS Enterprise Portal information was up to date. 

However, AAHomecare released a statement this week that its counsel contacted CMS about the message and learned that the CBIC distributed the notice without clearing it with CMS. The association also noted that CMS told its counsel that CMS has not yet made a decision on moving forward on Round 2021.

“Like the rest of the HME community, AAHomecare is anxiously awaiting details on the scope and timing for Round 2021,” a statement from AAHomecare read. 

“We continue to advocate for a delay of the next bidding round for at least one year or through the length of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), whichever is later,” the statement continued. “A delay will allow HME suppliers to continue to play a major role in supporting patients and reducing pressures on hospitals and clinicians during the PHE and also give HME stakeholders and CMS a chance to address the dramatic changes in the healthcare landscape in the wake of the pandemic.”