#United States #Arlington #medical supplies #Bipartisan Legislation #Medicare Act

Access to Medical Supplies Act Introduced

On October 15, 2026, Representatives Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced a significant piece of legislation known as the Access to Medical Supplies Act, identified as H.R. 10787. This bipartisan act is designed to safeguard access to medically necessary supplies for patients who rely on these products in their daily lives, particularly those who use ostomy and urological supplies.

The Impetus for the Legislation

The bill aims to temporarily pause the inclusion of ostomy and urological supplies in the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program for a period of five years. The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) has expressed strong support for this initiative, highlighting the importance of ensuring that patients have access to personalized and essential medical supplies.

Tom Ryan, President and CEO of AAHomecare, emphasized the necessity of understanding the potential ramifications before implementing changes to the program. He remarked, "Before CMS enacts a program that reshapes how patients receive highly personalized medical supplies, it should understand exactly what is at stake." This statement reflects a broader concern within the healthcare community regarding the implications of potentially restricting patient access to crucial supplies.

Objectives of the Bill

The Access to Medical Supplies Act aims to give the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the time needed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of how including these supplies in the competitive bidding program would impact patient access. Furthermore, the legislation stipulates the establishment of a technical expert panel to study the potential effects and launches a demonstration project to assess the implications of such changes before CMS makes any definitive decisions.

This approach intends to foster collaboration between CMS and various stakeholders, including patients, medical supply providers, and healthcare advocates, to ensure that the needs and perspectives of all parties involved are thoroughly considered.

The Importance of Patient Access

The bill comes in light of a national initiative that CMS introduced in its DMEPOS/Home Health final rule, which creates a Remote Item Delivery (RID) Competitive Bidding Program. This program consolidates bidding into a single nationwide framework rather than conducting separate competitions based on geographic regions. As a result, ostomy and urological supplies have been categorized among the products slated for bidding, with implementation scheduled for January 2028.

Urging Congressional Support

The American Association for Homecare has voiced concerns to both CMS and White House officials about the adverse effects the inclusion of these supplies might have on patient access to critical materials. The introduction of the Access to Medical Supplies Act is viewed as a necessary legislative measure to delay these changes until a comprehensive evaluation is conducted. Ryan urges every member of Congress to support this effort to protect patient access.

In conclusion, the Access to Medical Supplies Act marks an important step towards ensuring that patients continue to receive the necessary medical supplies without interruption. It reflects a growing bipartisan consensus on the need for careful deliberation regarding healthcare policies that impact the lives of countless individuals who depend on these resources.