New Round of DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Set to Take Effect in January 2028
New Round Will Include CGMs, Insulin Pumps, Ostomy & Urological Supplies; Most Legacy Products from Earlier CB Rounds Not Included
On Nov. 28, 2025, CMS released the 2026 DMEPOS/Home Health Final Rule, announcing details for the next round of the Medicare Competitive Bidding Round for DMEPOS that would include CGMs, insulin pumps, ostomy & urological supplies, as well as off-the-shelf braces.
CMS' initial timeline anticipates the bidding window to open late Summer/early Fall 2026, with contracts and single payment amounts taking effect no later than Jan. 1, 2028. See full timeline below for additional detail.
On Dec. 9, 2025, CMS updated its fact sheet on the Final Rule to make it clear that legacy product categories like oxygen, standard wheelchairs, CPAP, hospital beds, and others included in previous bidding rounds will not be part of the bidding round (with the exception of off-the-shelf braces).
Dive Deeper
This Summary of Key Rules for the Medicare DMEPOS CB Program from Brown & Fortunato provides an primer on key aspects the Final Rule and the next CB Round.
Latest News
CMS DMEPOS Competitive Bidding FAQs - Jan. 22, 2026
More Information & Resources Available
Find additional resources, updates, and advocacy materials at right to help DME stakeholders prepare for and respond to the upcoming round of the Competitive Bidding Program.
We will also share educational resources to help suppliers of products included in Round 2028 to understand the bidding process as they are developed.
Resources and News
• 2026
DMEPOS/Home Health Final Rule - published in the Federal Register, Dec. 2, 2025
• Final Rule text in PDF format - DMEPOS section begins on p. 240
• Fact Sheet on DMEPOS/HH Final Rule - released Nov. 28, 2025; updated Dec. 9, 2025
• Final Rule Limits Scope of Bidding Program But Significant Advocacy Challenges
Remain - AAH Insider, Dec. 17, 2025
• Summary of Key Rules for the Medicare DMEPOS CB Program - Brown
& Fortunato, Jan. 13, 2025
• CMS DMEPOS
Competitive Bidding FAQs - Jan. 22, 2026
• House Sign-On Letter on Ostomy & Urological Supplies in CB Program and
our related Alert - note: deadline for legislators to sign on extended to March 6.
Competitive Bidding in Focus at Medtrade 2026
AAHomecare staff and noted DME educators are leading 3 educational sessions at Medtrade 2026 in Phoenix (Mar 2-4). Select the Competitive Bidding track here to see more details on these sessions:
• Overview of the Final Rule Competitive Bidding Changes
• Understanding the Bid Process
• Essential Considerations for Suppliers Submitting Bids
Each session is being presented twice to help attendees fit them into their schedules.
Support Efforts to Secure House Signatures on a Letter Advocating a Delay in Competitive Bidding for Ostomy and Urological Supplies
A Congressional sign?on letter led by Rep. Chris Smith (R?NJ) is being sent to CMS Administrator Oz to request a delay in Competitive Bidding for ostomy and urological supplies. A pre-drafted Voter Voice message is available. The letter is has beeb extended to March 6, so please contact your legislator today. This is a House-only sign-on letter; there is no need to contact your Senators at this time.
Timeline for CB Round 2028
In its fact sheet, CMS announced their intentions to have the next CBP Round go live no later than January 2028. In preparation for it, CMS announced pre-bidding education will begin next month with the bidding window to open Summer 2026. This fact sheet also includes product categories for remote item delivery. CMS notes that dates listed are "target dates."
December 2025
• CMS begins pre-bidding supplier awareness program
Late Spring/Early Summer 2026
• CMS announces specific dates for registration and bidding
• CMS announces lead items for the DMEPOS CBP product categories and number of contracts to award for each product category
• CMS begins bidder education program
Late Summer/Early Fall 2026
• Bidder registration period to obtain user IDs and passwords begins
• Bid window opens
Late Summer/Early Fall 2027
• Contracts awarded and single payment amounts announced
• Beneficiary education begins
No Later Than January 1, 2028
• Start of Next Round - Contracts and single payment amounts (SPAs) in effect
• Six-month transition period begins for beneficiaries to switch to contract suppliers
CB Round 2028 in Focus
Provisions from the Final Rule restarting the bidding program will have consequential impacts on the DME community, patients, and caregivers. AAHomecare is beginning work on the next
phase of our advocacy related to the proposed rule to address these significant issues that remain.
RID Competitive Bidding Program
The new bidding round will include products that will be furnished by Remote Item Delivery (RID): Class II CGMs & Insulin Pumps, Urological Supplies, Ostomy Supplies, Hydrophilic Urinary
Catheters, and OTS Braces. Using 2023 utilization data, we estimate that CMS processes for implementing a nationwide RID bid program will result in fewer than 10 suppliers
“winning” bids and serving patients in ostomy, CGMs/insulin pumps, and urological supplies categories.
Payment Setting Methodology/Bid Ceiling
CMS’ process for determining the Single Payment Amount (SPA) for these products is set at the 75th percentile of bids needed to meet market demand. In addition, the new bidding process
will utilize the current fee schedule as the bid ceiling for these products (with the exception of braces), instead of using the 2015 unadjusted SPA as a ceiling (as used in the last bidding
round). Using these mechanisms severely limits the prospects of delivering payment amounts that reflect market reality for suppliers.
This payment setting methodology will impact bidders under the RID Bidding Round in the near term – but also sets a worrying precedent for any possible future bidding rounds.
CB Advocacy a Priority for 2026
AAHomecare has been working with DME stakeholders, patient advocacy groups, and supporters on Capitol Hill to develop strategy and legislative language to address major
aspects the next CB round. We will share details on legislation and how the DME community can support these initiatives as they take shape.