In some parts of the country, a new program called Competitive Bidding will require you to obtain certain medical equipment from specific, Medicare-contracted suppliers in order for Medicare to pay. The new program currently applies to people with original Medicare, which is a fee-for-service coverage under which the government pays your health care providers directly for your Part A and/or Part B benefits. The competitive bidding program affects those who live in (or travel to) these 9 areas.
Areas participating in the competitive bid program: · 
- Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord (North Carolina and South Carolina)
- Cincinnati-Middletown (Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana)
- Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor (Ohio)
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (Texas)
- Kansas City (Missouri and Kansas)
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach (Florida)
- Orlando-Kissimmee (Florida)
- Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania)
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario (California)
If you are located in a city where the program is in effect, you will need to obtain the following products from a contracted supplier:
- Oxygen, oxygen equipment, and supplies
- Standard power wheelchairs, scooters, and related accessories
- Walkers and related Accessories
- Complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs and related accessories (Group 2 only)
- Mail-order diabetic supplies
- Enteral nutrition, equipment, and supplies
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices and Respiratory Assist Devices (RADs), and related supplies and accessories
- Hospital beds and related accessories
- Walkers and related accessories
- Support surfaces (Group 2 mattresses and overlays in Miami only)
To find out if your zip code is affected by Medicare’s Competitive Bidding program, or if an item you use is included in the program, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-4227). You may also visit http://www.Medicare.gov and look up suppliers in your area by zip code (a notice will appear if your area is subject to Competitive Bidding). If medical equipment is marked with an orange star, it will need to be provided by a contracted supplier.
Source: http://www.symbiusmedical.com/what-is-competitive-bidding/
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