CMS Excludes Oxygen and CPAP Supplies from 2026 Medicare Competitive Bidding

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to exclude supplemental oxygen, CPAP devices, and their associated supplies from the upcoming Medicare competitive bidding program (CBP), a move that has been positively received by the Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC). This decision, outlined in the home health final rule published on November 28, 2025, aims to preserve patient access to essential respiratory therapies while maintaining prior cost savings achieved through competitive bidding. Approximately 1.5 million Americans depend on home respiratory therapies such as supplemental oxygen to manage chronic conditions and maintain independence. The CQRC has commended CMS for addressing stakeholder concerns and protecting access to these critical services, highlighting the importance of home-based respiratory care. Additionally, the CQRC has advocated for the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act, which seeks to enhance the supplemental oxygen benefit by strengthening fraud prevention, patient protections, and improving access to respiratory therapy in rural and underserved areas. The 2026 competitive bidding program will include notable changes such as annual provider accreditation requirements, the addition of ostomy, tracheostomy, and urological supplies to CBP, and a significant reduction in the number of Medicare providers across various product categories. The CQRC's response has been one of the few positive reactions from the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) sector regarding these sweeping CMS policy updates.