DME OXY Supplier RFI.docx

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

One Ashburton Place, 11th Floor Boston, MA 02108

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

For DME and OXY Wholesale Suppliers Potential Exclusive and/or Preferred Supplier(s) for Durable Medical Equipment and Supplies (DME) and Oxygen and Respiratory Therapy Equipment and Supplies (OXY)

DOCUMENT NUMBER: 25EHSPMDMEO2SUPP

ISSUE DATE: May 16, 2025

I. INTRODUCTION

MassHealth The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) is the largest secretariat in state government, overseeing eleven (11) state agencies and the MassHealth program. The secretariat serves one (1) in four (4) Commonwealth residents focusing on their health, resilience, and independence. EOHHS also serves as the single state agency responsible for administering the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (collectively, MassHealth), and other health and human services programs designed to pay for medical services for eligible individuals pursuant to M.G.L. c.118E, Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.), Title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1397aa et seq.), and other applicable laws and waivers.

MassHealth provides comprehensive, affordable health care coverage for over two million low-income Massachusetts residents, including 40% of all Massachusetts children and 60% of all residents with disabilities. MassHealth’s mission is to improve the health outcomes of our diverse Members and their families by providing access to integrated health care services that sustainably and equitably promote health, well-being, independence, and quality of life.

Purpose of RFI EOHHS is seeking to create and implement a Preferred and/or Exclusive Supplier Contract for identified DME and OXY products and supply categories to maximize value for the Commonwealth and MassHealth members. EOHHS anticipates issuing a Request for Responses (hereafter, the “RFR”) in the future and subsequently entering into an agreement with one or more Bidders who offer the best value Wholesale Unit Price for products, securing a reduced per-unit cost for the MassHealth DME and/or OXY Providers who deliver Covered Products to MassHealth members on a fee-for-service (FFS) basis.

Information received through this RFI will inform the development of the RFR and the policies of MassHealth. Information provided in response to this RFI that is identified by the respondent as trade secrets or commercial or financial information will be kept confidential and exempt from disclosure as a public record to the extent permissible by law (see M.G.L. c. 4, § 7, cl. 26(g)), as provided in Section IV.

Exclusive Supplier Through the potential RFR, EOHHS anticipates entering into one (1) exclusive supplier agreement per category of services. All contracted MassHealth-enrolled FFS DME or OXY Providers will be required to obtain specified products or supplies from one exclusive supplier. EOHHS is considering entering into an exclusive supplier agreement for one (1) or more of the following product categories:

1. Continuous Glucose Monitors and Supplies

2. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) Equipment and Supplies

3. Enteral and Parenteral Products and Supplies

4. External Infusion Equipment and Supplies Preferred Supplier If EOHHS does not enter into an exclusive agreement for any of the product categories above, then through the RFR, EOHHS may enter into one (1) or more preferred supplier agreement(s). MassHealth-enrolled FFS DME and OXY Providers will be encouraged, but not required, to obtain specified products or supplies from the preferred supplier. EOHHS is considering entering into one (1) or multiple preferred supplier agreements for one (1) or more of the following product categories:

1. Continuous Glucose Monitors and Supplies,

2. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) Equipment and Supplies,

3. Enteral and Parenteral Products and Supplies,

4. External Infusion Equipment and Supplies,

5. Miscellaneous Supplies (Gloves, Breast Pumps, Blood Pressure Monitors/Supplies and Vaporizers),

6. Nebulizer Products and Supplies,

7. Oxygen and Respiratory Therapy Supplies

8. Surgical Dressings and Supplies,

9. Tracheostomy Equipment and Supplies and/or

10. Urological Equipment and Supplies EOHHS is seeking information from DME and OXY Suppliers to assess the project’s feasibility and to best frame an RFR, ensuring that any resulting contract(s) provides the best overall value to the Commonwealth and MassHealth members, as well as administrative and other benefits to FFS DME and OXY Providers.

Respondents are welcome to answer any or all questions in this RFI. If you have additional suggestions or information that you believe EOHHS should take into consideration, please submit that as well.

II. DEFINITIONS

Capitalized terms used in this RFI shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

COMMBUYS: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' sole online procurement record site.

Current Wholesale Unit Price: The price that a wholesale supplier charges per unit for a product(s) or service(s).

Durable Medical Equipment (DME): The medical equipment and medical supplies covered by 130 CMR 409.000.

DME Provider: An organization or individual that has enrolled with MassHealth and signed a provider contract who meets all applicable requirements of 130 CMR 409.000 and 130 CMR 450.000: Administrative and Billing Regulations.

Exclusive Supplier Contract: An agreement to be the exclusive wholesale supplier of specified products or supplies for MassHealth-enrolled FFS DME or OXY Providers will be required to obtain specified products or supplies from the exclusive wholesale supplier.

Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS): The single state agency for the administration of MassHealth (Medicaid), the medical assistance and benefit program or its designee pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et. seq.), Title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et. seq.), M.G.L. c. 118E, and other applicable laws and waivers.

MassHealth: The medical assistance or benefit programs administered by EOHHS to provide and pay for medical services to eligible MassHealth members pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act, Title XXI of the Social Security Act, M.G.L. c. 118E, and other applicable laws and waivers.

MassHealth Member: Any person enrolled in the Massachusetts Medicaid or CHIP program and eligible to receive covered services. For purposes of this RFI, this includes MassHealth members for whom claims are submitted to MassHealth for covered services on a fee-for-service basis (including but not limited to members enrolled in the MassHealth Primary Care Clinician Plan or a MassHealth Primary Care Accountable Care Organization). For purposes of this RFI “MassHealth Member” does not include MassHealth members enrolled in MassHealth Accountable Care Partnership Plans (ACPPs), Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), Senior Care Organizations (SCOs), or One Care Plans (collectively, for the purposes of this RFI, managed care entities or MCEs).

Oxygen and Respiratory Therapy Equipment and Supplies: The equipment and supplies covered by 130 CMR 427.000, used in the administration of oxygen therapy or the administration of respiratory therapy.

OXY Provider: An organization or individual that has enrolled with MassHealth and has signed a provider contract with the MassHealth agency who meets all applicable requirements of 130 CMR 427.000 and 130 CMR 450.000: Administrative and Billing Regulations.

Preferred Supplier Contract: An agreement to be a wholesale supplier of specified products for MassHealth-enrolled FFS DME and OXY Providers. Providers will be encouraged but not required to obtain specified products or supplies from the preferred supplier.

Response: Any information submitted in response to the questions and other information outlined in this RFI, including any clarifying information provided by the respondent, if requested by EOHHS.

III. QUESTIONS FOR RESPONSE

EOHHS requests responses to the below questions. We encourage DME and OXY wholesale suppliers and other interested parties to provide answers, comments and suggestions in response to all or a subset of the questions for consideration.

Please refer to Section IV regarding confidential treatment of trade secrets or commercial or financial information identified as such by the respondent.

A. General Questions

1. Respondent Information.

a) Please provide your name, address, direct phone number, and email address.

b) If you represent a company, please provide your company name, parent company name, company address, and company website.

2. Please identify which product categories your organization provides. Please check all that apply.

3. Based on the list in Section III.A.2 above, which categories of equipment and supplies, if any, do you believe would be more difficult or challenging to offer lower more competitive wholesale pricing under:

a) a DME and/or OXY Preferred supplier arrangement; or

b) an Exclusive Supplier Contract?

Please explain why.

4. Based on the list in Section III.A.2 above, which categories of equipment and supplies, if any, do you believe would be most workable for offering lower, more competitive wholesale pricing under:

a) a DME and/or OXY Preferred Supplier arrangement; or

b) an Exclusive Supplier Contract?

Please explain why.

5. Are there any additional product categories not listed in Section III.A.2 above that you believe feel would be beneficial to include in a DME and/or OXY Preferred and/or Exclusive Supplier Contract? Please explain why.

6. Please complete the table below. Please only check one box for each program element.

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Please describe your potential interest in becoming a DME and OXY Preferred Supplier

In the space below, please provide feedback related to the benefits and/or challenges your organization will face as a Preferred Supplier.

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Please describe your potential interest in becoming a DME and OXY Exclusive Supplier

In the space below, please provide feedback related to the benefits and/or challenges your organization will face as an Exclusive Supplier.

7. What additional factors or information are needed for you to consider bidding on an RFR for a Preferred and/or Exclusive DME and OXY Supplier?

8. Based on the categories listed in Section III.A.2 above, would you be more likely to bid on a contract to become a:

☐ Preferred Supplier ☐ Exclusive Supplier ☐ Both Preferred and Exclusive Supplier ☐ Neither Preferred nor Exclusive Supplier

9. Are there methods or approaches other than Preferred and/or Exclusive DME and/or OXY Supplier agreements to better leverage wholesale pricing?

10. If you have any additional suggestions or information that you believe EOHHS should take into consideration, please submit that as well.

In Attachment A, please fill out the corresponding Tab for each product category you provide: a) Product Modifier; b) Product/Manufacturer Brand Name(s); and c) Current Wholesale Unit price(s) for each HCPCS code listed within the category (tab).

2. If you have any additional information that you believe EOHHS should take into consideration, please submit that as well.

EOHHS requests that RFI responses be submitted by Friday, June 13, 2025, no later than 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time. Responses should be submitted via email to the following address:

EOHHS-Procurement@mass.gov Parties interested in responding to this RFI should prepare a typewritten response that includes a cover sheet that states the Respondent’s name, organization, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and affiliation or interest. Responses should be sent with the email subject line “Preferred and/or Exclusive DME and/or OXY Supplier(s) RFI Response”. Responses must be submitted electronically. Questions should be answered in order of appearance and numbered according to the RFI question number. Respondents are invited to respond to a subset or all of the RFI questions; please respond to as many as you feel are appropriate. Responses, including any attachments thereto, should be clearly labeled and referenced by name in the RFI response. No part of the response can be returned. Receipt of RFI responses will not be acknowledged.

2. Confidential Information Please provide a separate, clearly named and marked file for any information provided to EOHHS in response to this RFI and identified by the respondent as trade secrets or commercial or financial information.

B. Additional Information

1. Electronic Distribution This RFI has been distributed electronically using the Commonwealth of Massachusetts procurement record system (COMMBUYS). COMMBUYS is an electronic mechanism used for advertising and distributing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ procurements and related files. No individual may alter (manually or electronically) the RFI or its components except those portions intended to collect the respondent’s response. Interested parties may access COMMBUYS at the following address: https://www.commbuys.com/bso/.

Questions specific to COMMBUYS should be directed to the OSD Help Desk at OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov or by calling the Help Desk during normal business hours (8 AM-5 PM ET Monday-Friday) at 1-888-627-8283 or 617-720-3197.

2. RFI Amendments Interested parties are solely responsible for checking COMMBUYS for any addenda or modifications that are subsequently made to this RFI. The Commonwealth and its subdivisions accept no liability and will provide no accommodation to interested parties who fail to check for amended RFIs.

3. Use of RFI Information Information is being solicited in this RFI to assist EOHHS in the solicitation of Exclusive and/or Preferred Supplier(s) for the provision of DME and OXY, equipment and supplies. EOHHS reserves the right to accept or reject, in part or in full, any information contained in or submitted in response to this RFI. This RFI is not binding on EOHHS and shall not obligate EOHHS to issue a procurement that incorporates any RFI provisions or responses. Responding to this RFI is entirely voluntary, will in no way affect EOHHS’ consideration of any proposal submitted in response to any subsequent procurement, and will not serve as an advantage or disadvantage to the respondent in the course of any procurement that may be issued. Responses to this RFI become the property of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and are public records under the Massachusetts public records law, M.G.L. c. 66, § 10 and c. 4, § 7, cl. 26, regarding public access to such documents. However, information provided to EOHHS in response to this RFI and identified by the respondent as confidential trade secrets or commercial or financial information will be kept confidential and will be exempt from disclosure as a public record to the extent permissible by law (see M.G.L. c. 4, § 7, cl. 26(g)). This exemption may not apply to information submitted in response to any subsequent procurement.

See Section IV.A.2 for instructions on submitting information identified by the respondent as confidential trade secrets or commercial or financial information.

ATTACHMENT A:

RFI Total Wholesale Unit Prices for Covered Products

[SEE EXCEL SPREADSHEET ATTACHED SEPARATELY IN COMMBUYS]

CATEGORY TABS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

DME and OXY Suppliers RFI Page 2 of 2