Medicare delays DME payment cuts—but only for four months, and not for rural areas
S. 2951 — Competitive Bidding Relief Act · Filed by James Lankford (R-OK) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 30, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill delays Medicare payment cuts for durable medical equipment (wheelchairs, oxygen, etc.) in non-competitive bidding areas. It extends a temporary transition rule through the end of 2025 that keeps payment rates higher than they would otherwise be, and blocks a lower payment schedule from taking effect until January 1, 2026. The bill protects suppliers and patients from immediate rate reductions in most of the country.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a temporary extension of higher Medicare reimbursement rates for durable medical equipment suppliers, postponing a scheduled rate reduction by four months. It is a narrow, time-limited payment relief measure.
What the text implies
- The bill does not address the underlying competitive bidding program redesign; it merely delays its financial impact, suggesting the rate reduction will still occur in 2026 unless further legislation intervenes.
- Suppliers in rural and noncontiguous areas are explicitly excluded from the transition-rule extension in subsection (a), creating a two-tier system where rural DME providers face earlier rate reductions.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
durable medical equipment suppliers and manufacturers; DME rental and sales companies