Sage Advice From CMS's Bastinelli

“Accreditation is not just about writing a check and waiting for a survey. It’s up to providers to stay on top of the process. Do not sit back and wait. Do not assume that because you have sent a check in that you will (make) the deadlines. Go to your organization and they will tell you what your timeline is." -- CMS's Sandra Bastinelli, January 22 DME Accreditation 101 teleconference

DMEPOS Subcontracts and Accreditation Confusion

While it is technically correct that you do not have to be accredited to become a DMEPOS subcontract supplier, supplying bid items like walkers, for a winning bidder, the point is now moot.

If you sell just one box of diabetes testing strips, EVEN if you are a subcontracted supplier for walkers, you MUST obtain accreditation by September 30, 2009. Now, if you just want to sell walkers as a subcontracted supplier, and you are going to give up your Part B billing number and your diabetes supply business, then, you do NOT need to become accredited.

Still confused…probably. Bottom line, you must obtain accreditation prior to September 30, 2009 to maintain your Medicare billing number. Get started today!

Urgent NPI Update: Test Your Medicare Part B Claims Now!

After Medicare providers have submitted claims containing both NPIs and legacy identifiers and those claims have been paid, Medicare urges these providers to send a small batch of claims NOW with only the NPI in the primary provider fields. If the results are positive, begin increasing the number of claims in the batch.

Note: All current and past CMS NPI communications are available by clicking "CMS Communications" in the left column of the www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand CMS webpage.

DMEPOS Accreditation 101: CMS Schedules Calls

DMEPOS Accreditation 101
Tuesday, January 22
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time

This audio conference is the first in a series of four designed to provide guidance to DMEPOS suppliers regarding accreditation. Topics to be discussed will be compliance with the DMEPOS Quality Standards, the accreditation process and providing ample time to answer questions from the suppliers. To download the call presentation, that will be posted in the days just prior to the call, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll/.

A Quote to Remember

“I cannot stress enough the importance for all Part B DMEPOS suppliers to apply for accreditation early, and not wait until September 30, 2009. Suppliers considering participating in the second phase of the competitive bidding program should apply for accreditation immediately.” -- CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems (1/8/08)

CMS Announces Plans for Second Phase of Competitive Bidding

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Tuesday announced 70 new areas across the nation will be part of the second phase of the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program. Ten areas currently participate in the program.

CMS expects to begin pre-bidding activities of the second round, such as announcing the specific zip codes that constitute the CBAs, specific items in each product category, and bidder education and registration for user IDs and passwords, in the spring of 2008. The bidding period is expected to run 60 days and is planned to begin in the summer of 2008. A more detailed timeline will be provided as the pre-bidding activities begin.

Suppliers must also meet quality standards established by CMS and be accredited by one of 10 organizations chosen by Medicare. The final deadline for all suppliers to obtain an initial accreditation is September 30, 2009. However, suppliers that want to participate in the second phase of the competitive bidding program will have to be accredited well in advance of that deadline to be awarded a contract with CMS.

“I cannot stress enough the importance for all Part B DMEPOS suppliers to apply for accreditation early, and not wait until September 30, 2009,” said CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems. “Suppliers considering participating in the second phase of the competitive bidding program should apply for accreditation immediately.”

The competitive bidding program also includes special considerations for small suppliers, and options for beneficiaries in the competitive bidding areas (CBAs) who have existing rental agreements with suppliers that are not chosen as winning bidders in the competition.

For more information on the competitive bidding program and accreditation requirements, visit www.pharmacistelink.com/medicaredme.

Additional information on the DMEPOS competitive bidding program is available at the following websites: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS/ and
http://www.medicare.gov/Supplier/Static/About/DMEPOS.asp.

Don’t Be Left Out in the Cold Without a Medicare Part B DMEPOS Billing Number

Accreditors continue to reiterate their warnings that providers need to allow time for the accreditation and survey processes. This time…I BELIEVE THEM. The process can take from several months to a year, depending on the pharmacy's resources and the DMEPOS services provided. You MUST realize that if everyone waits until the last minute, some companies will be left in the cold — without a Medicare billing number. Don’t let that be YOU!