AdvaMed Urges CMS to Protect Patient Access to Critical Medical Equipment

WASHINGTON — AdvaMed, the medtech association, the world’s largest trade association representing medtech innovators, today released the following statement on the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) release of its 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System final rule:

“We support efforts to protect the Medicare trust fund and lower out-of-pocket costs for patients, and we support CMS’s ongoing commitment to improving the program’s integrity. At the same time, we remain focused on ensuring that patients with Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes — as well as those who rely on ostomy and urological supplies — continue to have access to the latest clinically proven technologies that meet their medical needs,” AdvaMed President and CEO Scott Whitaker said.

Whitaker continued: “With respect to diabetes supplies, it is well-documented that patients who have access to CGMs and sensors, paired with appropriate clinical care, have far better health outcomes than patients who don’t. Poorly managed diabetes can cause dangerous health complications, frequent emergency room visits, and lengthy hospitalizations. Beyond the risk to health, a single episode of hypoglycemia requiring medical care costs, on average, $1,161, according to one study. Another study found that CGMs reduced monthly diabetes-related medical costs by $424 for each patient.

“While this so-called competitive bidding program still has significant shortcomings and we remain concerned about its potential impact on patient access, we appreciate CMS’s willingness to consider stakeholder feedback throughout its development. We are encouraged by the extended implementation timeline and the expansion in the number of contracts awarded — issues we raised directly in our letter to the agency. We also welcome CMS’s requirement that suppliers furnish the diabetes devices prescribed by physicians, which is essential to ensuring that patients receive the technologies that best meet their clinical needs, a provision we advocated for in our comments and communications with the agency.

“We look forward to continuing to work with CMS and the Administration to ensure the program evolves in a way that protects access to safe, clinically appropriate supplies for beneficiaries managing complex, chronic conditions.”

AdvaMed also strongly opposes the inclusion of ostomy and urological supplies in the competitive bidding program. These products are prosthetic devices, not durable medical equipment, and fall outside CMS’s statutory authority for competitive bidding. They are highly individualized, and disruptions in access could lead to serious medical complications and costly hospitalizations.

AdvaMed strongly opposes the inclusion of ostomy, tracheostomy, and urological supplies in the competitive bidding program. These products are prosthetic devices, not durable medical equipment, and fall outside CMS’ statutory authority for competitive bidding. They are highly individualized, and disruptions in access could lead to serious medical complications and costly hospitalizations.

AdvaMed outlined these concerns in a comment letter on the proposed rule in August, strongly recommending CMS fix “serious flaws” in the proposal before proceeding.

Earlier this month, AdvaMed welcomed bipartisan, bicameral concern about the competitive bidding proposal from U.S. House of Representatives and Senate diabetes caucus leaders. The legislators, like AdvaMed, expressed concern about reduced patient access to vital diabetes management products under the proposal.

Proper diabetes care is critical to patient health and reducing Medicare expenses for diabetes-related complications. A single episode of hypoglycemia requiring medical care costs $1,161, according to one study. Another study found that CGMs reduced monthly diabetes-related medical costs by $424 for each patient.

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