The DMEPOS competitive bidding program is designed to help lower out-of-pocket costs and improve access to certain high-quality DMEPOS products for Medicare beneficiaries. The competitive bidding program was mandated through the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 through a statute that requires Medicare to replace its fee schedule with a competitive bid process.

The competitive bid payment amounts are determined by using bids submitted by DMEPOS suppliers. The intent of the competitive bidding program is to set more appropriate payment amounts for DMEPOS items, which will result in reduced beneficiary out-of-pocket expenses and savings to taxpayers and the Medicare program.

Round 1 Rebid
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (enacted on July 15, 2008) delayed the Medicare DMEPOS competitive bidding program and required that Round 1 be rebid.

DMEPOS accreditation and a surety bond were required for pharmacies interested in participating in the bidding program. The deadline for participating in the Round 1 Rebid was December 21, 2009.

Learn More About Competitive Bidding
CMS’s contractor, Competitive Bidding Implementation Contactor (CBIC), provides important information on the bidding timeline, bidding rules, user guides, frequently asked questions, and policy fact sheets and checklists. See CMS’s Web site for more information on the DMEPOS competitive bidding program.

• Application Instructions
• Application
• CMS Quality Standards
• Competitive Bidding
• DMEPOS Covered Drugs
• FAQ
• Fees
• Information Kit
• List of Accredited Pharmacies
• Medicare Supplier Standards
• MIPPA Fact Sheet
• Products Approved for Accreditation
• Appeals Procedure
• Archive of DMEPOS Announcements
• Contact DMEPOS Staff