I’m getting mixed messages from accreditors regarding the volume of applications coming into the agencies. Like the first year of a new model car, it looks like the bidding suppliers in the first 10 MSAs (http://pharmacistelink.com/medicaredme/msas.asp) are going to work the “kinks” out for the rest of us. They have an August 31 deadline.
Additionally, many pharmacists not bidding are waiting to see if market pricing will settle further. Many independents, unlike their chain competitors, do not maintain policy, procedure, and protocol manuals. This has slowed down the accreditation process for some.
Starting on May 20th, PRS Pharmacy Services will be conducting seminars (Register online at https://secure.prsrx.com/dmepos/1DaySeminarReg.html) in the first 10 MSAs to assist pharmacists in creating manuals and understanding DMEPOS competitive bidding opportunities. Yours truly will be speaking there about “activity-based costing,” which is just a fancy way of analyzing DMEPOS service costs on a per unit basis. Understand your costs and you will know how aggressively you can bid.
On a bright note, NABP (http://www.nabp.net/) says there is no backlog and they are ready, willing, and able to quickly process and survey bidding suppliers to meet CMS accreditation deadlines.
Bill Popomaronis, R.Ph., NCPA vice president, home health and long term care pharmacy services, provides his thoughts and explanations on the latest DME information from CMS.
