2022 HME Cost of Delivery – The Survey Results Are In!

Published in Government Relations on May 11, 2022

VGM & Associates routinely monitors environmental factors which impact Home Medical Equipment (HME) providers and their ability to effectively provide their products and services to patients who need and rely on them. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes brought about by it, VGM Government surveyed our members last year regarding the costs associated with delivering HME. That survey was dubbed VGM’s 2021 Home Medical Equipment Delivery Cost Report (Click here to view the 2021 Delivery Cost Survey responses), and summarized responses from nearly 100 individual HME providers. Their responses demonstrated the total costs associated with providing equipment such as oxygen, hospital beds, mobility equipment, and more to patients’ homes both before and during the public health emergency.

Data received from both that 2021 survey and a similar one conducted by VGM in 2018, prior to the pandemic, has been eye opening for many, including officials at CMS, members of Congress, and our VGM members. This information was shared with and well-received by elected officials and other industry stakeholders, as it highlighted one of the sources of increased financial pressures on HME companies due to continuing pandemic issues.

Our industry providers play a critical, front-line role in patient care and minimizing hospitalizations. These same elected officials and stakeholders requested that VGM follow-up with questions relative to certain other PHE affiliated burdens which might affect access to appropriate patient service.

To that end, as a follow up to our 2021 survey, VGM has once again, for 2022, surveyed our members requesting updates of the costs of delivering home medical equipment as well as additional information relative to recent operational challenges such as supply change issues, employee wages, product acquisition cost increases, freight cost increases, and personal protective equipment (PPE). We also inquired as to the current wage levels of three common positions (delivery technician, billing personnel, and office staff) due to reports of required overtime, higher employee benefits packages, and difficulty maintaining sufficient staffing.

Click here to view the 2022 results. You will note we have again regionalized the responses by geographical area and have added a breakdown by company size: Small (1-10 employees), medium (11-50 employees), and large (+51 employees).

The data was sorted and arranged by Mark Higley, VP of regulatory affairs for VGM Government. He commented, “While I suspected the various costs and related factors in securing appropriate HME delivery services would increase – as compared to our previous two surveys – I underestimated the cumulative pressures on the business operations of these companies.” Higley continued, “I anticipated the higher vehicle expenses (due to the large fuel increases) but was rather stunned by the array of ancillary demands (e.g., supply chain, surcharges, freight, overtime, etc.) facing these most critical organizations serving the most cost-effective patient population.”

We greatly appreciate those that took the time to submit your survey responses.


TAGS

  1. dmepos
  2. hme
  3. vgm
  4. vgm government

From Our Experts

Proposed Rule Suggests Significant Change To Accreditation Process thumbnail Proposed Rule Suggests Significant Change To Accreditation Process The recently released proposed rule CMS-1828-P contains a significant change that could reshape how suppliers navigate accreditation. The rule proposes a major change that would require suppliers to be surveyed and reaccredited annually instead of the current three (3) year cadence. This proposal raises substantial questions about both operational feasibility and cost implications. August Of Action: Your Chance To Connect With Congress thumbnail August Of Action: Your Chance To Connect With Congress It's time to take advantage of August Of Action—a perfect opportunity to make your voice heard. Every summer, federal legislators return to their home states during the Congressional recess. While it gives them a break from Washington D.C., it's primarily a time for them to connect with constituents like you. HR1 Passes House, Advances to President Trump's Desk for Signature thumbnail HR1 Passes House, Advances to President Trump's Desk for Signature After extensive negotiations and partisan debate, the House has officially passed HR1, clearing the path for the bill to be signed into law by President Donald Trump. The legislation, which aims to reduce federal healthcare expenditures, contains several provisions that may impact the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) industry. CMS files the Proposed Rule that sheds light on the next round of the Competitive Bidding Program thumbnail CMS files the Proposed Rule that sheds light on the next round of the Competitive Bidding Program On June 30, 2025, CMS filed the anticipated Proposed Rule that includes updates to the Competitive Bidding Program (CBP). Public comments are due 60 days from June 30, 2025. Below is a high-level summary of the rule. It is critical to note that, according to the Proposed Rule Fact Sheet dated June 30, 2025, CMS has stated that they have not announced the specific product categories they are bidding or the specific timeframe for the next competition. Those specifics will be forthcoming in a fu Senate Narrowly Passes HR1, Sending It Back to House for Final Approval thumbnail Senate Narrowly Passes HR1, Sending It Back to House for Final Approval President Donald Trump's sweeping legislative package, formally titled the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, now referred to as HR1., cleared the Senate today in a dramatic 51–50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The bill now returns to the House, where lawmakers must decide whether to adopt the Senate's revised version or negotiate further changes before it can reach the president's desk. Several Prominent Medicaid Provisions in Senate's Budget Bill Deemed in Violation of Byrd Rule thumbnail Several Prominent Medicaid Provisions in Senate's Budget Bill Deemed in Violation of Byrd Rule Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough advised this week that multiple Medicaid provisions in the Senate's reconciliation bill would violate Senate procedure by violating the Byrd Rule. The Byrd Rule is a Senate-specific procedural process that allows Senators to prevent or block inclusion of extraneous provisions in reconciliation bills. Other provisions are still under review. Evaluating the Value of a Payer Contract thumbnail Evaluating the Value of a Payer Contract In our last article, Key Payers Denied Your Application Citing Their Network Is Closed – Now What?, we discussed strategies for addressing payer contracting denials due to a closed network. As indicated, this process can be an extremely time-consuming exercise with no guarantees and mixed results. Below are a few things to consider as you evaluate whether a contract is worth the extra effort. Webinar: Webinar: "Navigating The New CMS Landscape: RADs, HMVs, and Supplier Survival" on June 25 at 1 p.m. CT. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its final National Coverage Determination (NCD) for RADs and HMVs used in treating chronic respiratory failure due to COPD. While the rule potentially expands access to bilevel ST therapy (RADs), it also introduces complex compliance requirements, tighter usage criteria, and increased documentation burdens—without additional reimbursement.