Posts Tagged ‘DMEPOS’

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began accepting bids for the Round One Rebid of the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) on Oct. 21. Qualified DME suppliers in nine areas have until Dec. 21 to submit bids.

Registration to participate in the Round One Rebid is nearing an end. Suppliers that wish to submit bids must be registered by Nov. 4, 9 p.m. EST.

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Suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) must now be accredited and bonded to qualify for Medicare reimbursement.

Requirements for most DMEPOS suppliers to meet new quality standards went into effect Oct. 1. The $50,000 surety bond requirement went into effect Oct. 2. Read more »

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) released, Oct. 1, its annual Work Plan for fiscal year 2010. The Work Plan outlines activities the OIG intends to initiate or continue in its ongoing endeavor to right wrongs in Health and Human Services (HHS) programs and operations, such as Medicare. Read more »

In 2007, Medicare reimbursement for power wheelchairs far exceeded durable medical equipment (DME) supplier acquisition costs, according to an Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.

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The 60-day supplier bidding period will begin in late October for the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program’s Round One Rebid for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). To help suppliers prepare for bidding in the nine competitive bidding areas, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is leading a supplier outreach and education effort.

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Failure to heed an update to the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Suppliers (DMEPOS) Fee Schedule could mean lost revenue for your practice.

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At the Obama administration’s request, the interim final rule on the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program went into effect April 18.

The rule—issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Jan. 16—implements provisions in section 154 of the 2008 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) related to the program.

Specifically, this rule officially delays implementation of Round 1 of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program until 2009 and Round 2 until 2011; requires CMS to conduct a second Round 1 competition this year; and mandates certain changes for both the Round 1 rebid and subsequent rounds of the program, including a process for feedback to suppliers regarding missing financial documentation and requiring contractors to disclose to CMS information regarding subcontracting relationships.

The Round 1 rebid includes the same items and services and will be conducted in the same areas as the 2007 Round 1 competition, with exceptions. Specifically, the Round 1 rebid excludes negative pressure wound therapy items and services, Puerto Rico, and Group 3 complex rehabilitative wheelchairs.

Suppliers previously awarded a competitive bidding contract will need to resubmit bids for consideration. However, suppliers need only submit financial documents from the past year, rather than the past three years.

The Round 1 rebid will occur in the following cities:

• Cincinnati, Middletown
• Cleveland, Elyria, Mentor
• Charlotte, Gastonia, Concord
• Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington
• Kansas City
• Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach
• Orlando
• Pittsburgh
• Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario

The Round 1 rebid will include the following categories of items and services:

• Oxygen supplies and equipment
• Standard power wheelchairs, scooter and related accessories
• Complex rehabilitative poser wheelchairs and related accessories
• Mail-order diabetic supplies
• Enteral nutrients, equipment and supplies
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAPA), respiratory assist devices (RAD), and related supplies and accessories
• Walkers and related accessories
• Hospital beds and related accessories
• Support surfaces (Group 2 mattresses and overlays) in Miami

CMS is expected to issue guidance on the timeline and bidding requirements related to the Round 1 rebid in the upcoming weeks. This rule does not have an immediate effect on the DMEPOS benefit for Medicare beneficiaries.

Suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) who bill Medicare Part B have until Sept. 30 to obtain accreditation. For those who haven’t submitted an application yet, it may be too late.

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The effective date for the final rule “Medicare Program; Competitive Acquisition of Certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetic, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) by Certain Provisions of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA)” has been delayed another 60 days.

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Although health spending in the United States slowed to 6.1 percent in 2007 compared to 6.7 percent in 2006, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), it continues to shadow overall economic growth, which grew 4.8 percent in 2007.

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