The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the names of the 325 suppliers that have signed contracts with Medicare to provide certain medical equipment and supplies to beneficiaries in 10 communities across the U.S. The new competitive bidding program goes into effect on July 1, 2008.
CMS also announced that it is extending the deadline for suppliers in the 70 second round metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) to become accredited. CMS is extending the deadline because a significant number of suppliers in those communities have not yet applied for accreditation.
Suppliers must be accredited or have applied for accreditation by July 21, 2008, (formerly May 14, 2008), and the final accreditation deadline for the second round of competitive bidding is now January 14, 2009, a change from the October 31, 2008 deadline.
To read the entire CMS Press release issued Monday, please go here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
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.
