I tried to tell them. Most pharmacies now gross more than $3.5 million in total sales; thereby removing them from small supplier status. With diabetes testing supplies exempt from competitive bidding at retail, and no deadline for accreditation outside of the ten MSAs, is it any wonder that pharmacies are not beating down the doors of accreditation agencies!
Nonetheless, you should take advantage of this temporary reprieve and prepare for accreditation NOW. Sooner or later, its going to get to you!
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.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Competitive Bidding Webcast Now Available
An educational webcast is now available at the Competitive Bidding website, www.dmecompetitivebid.com. (Suppliers > education tools> webcast) The presentation is designed to help suppliers that intend to participate in the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program being implemented in 10 metropolitan areas throughout the United States.
The webcast highlights key bidding dates, provides an overview of the Competitive Bidding Program, and guides bidders through required application forms. Suppliers may view it at any time and submit questions at the conclusion of the presentation.
The Competitive Bidding website contains other helpful educational materials for suppliers, including a supplier tool kit, fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and more. For more information, call the Competitive Bidding Helpline at (877) 577-5331.
The webcast highlights key bidding dates, provides an overview of the Competitive Bidding Program, and guides bidders through required application forms. Suppliers may view it at any time and submit questions at the conclusion of the presentation.
The Competitive Bidding website contains other helpful educational materials for suppliers, including a supplier tool kit, fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and more. For more information, call the Competitive Bidding Helpline at (877) 577-5331.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Competitive Bidding Begins TODAY
From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:
CMS announced today that the Agency is now soliciting bids for the first round of the Medicare competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). All bids are due by 9 p.m. E.S.T. on July 13, 2007.
For each competitive bidding area under the program, CMS has issued a detailed chart providing important bidding information for suppliers. Suppliers should use these charts when preparing their bids. The competitive bidding areas, product categories, bidding information charts, and full instructions for submitting a bid are located on the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) web site at www.dmecompetitivebid.com. Additionally, information about the types of suppliers each accrediting organization is approved to accredit and how to contact an accrediting organization is posted on the CMS website at www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS/.
CMS announced today that the Agency is now soliciting bids for the first round of the Medicare competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). All bids are due by 9 p.m. E.S.T. on July 13, 2007.
For each competitive bidding area under the program, CMS has issued a detailed chart providing important bidding information for suppliers. Suppliers should use these charts when preparing their bids. The competitive bidding areas, product categories, bidding information charts, and full instructions for submitting a bid are located on the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) web site at www.dmecompetitivebid.com. Additionally, information about the types of suppliers each accrediting organization is approved to accredit and how to contact an accrediting organization is posted on the CMS website at www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS/.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
NCPA/PRS Seminars Scheduled for First 10 MSAs; Accredit and Bid Smart!
I’ll be doing my best Willie Nelson impersonation May 22nd through June 14th when I’ll be “on the road again” visiting the first 10 MSAs selected for competitive bidding. NCPA and PRS will be conducting seminars in these MSAs that will provide business tools to assist pharmacists through the accreditation and DMEPOS bid process.
I will be speaking on understanding your DMEPOS claims processing business costs. And, explaining which services are essential or non-essential to providing service that meets or exceeds CMS quality standards.
For more information on these seminars – locations, dates, and times – or to register, click here.
I hope to see you all at one of these seminars.
I will be speaking on understanding your DMEPOS claims processing business costs. And, explaining which services are essential or non-essential to providing service that meets or exceeds CMS quality standards.
For more information on these seminars – locations, dates, and times – or to register, click here.
I hope to see you all at one of these seminars.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Understanding DMEPOS Service Costs
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.
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.
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