On October 21, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued revised durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) Quality Standards. Providers must be aware of the revisions to the quality standards when they are preparing for the application process. Most of the changes are not substantial, and those that are were made to meet existing CMS regulations. A copy of the revised standards can be viewed here; revisions to the standards are highlighted in yellow.

Please note, the revised Quality Standards:

• Do not affect suppliers who applied for accreditation or were accredited prior to the issuance of the revisions.
• Do not greatly impact newly submitted applications to NABP for DMEPOS accreditation. Suppliers will be contacted if additional information is needed to complete their file.

Accreditation Deadlines for DMEPOS Suppliers
On September 3, 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance regarding durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) furnished by certain health care professionals and persons. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), enacted on July 15, 2008, required all DMEPOS suppliers to meet quality standards for Medicare accreditation by September 30, 2009. In addition, MIPPA stated that certain professionals and persons do not have to meet this deadline unless quality standards are developed specific to these professionals and persons.

• Existing DMEPOS suppliers, with the exception of some eligible professionals that are enrolled in the Medicare program are required to obtain and submit proof of accreditation to the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) by September 30, 2009. The NSC will revoke a DMEPOS supplier’s billing privileges on October 1, 2009.
• Pharmacies are not included in the list of professionals exempt from the September 30, 2009 accreditation deadline.
• The accreditation process may take up to 9 months to complete for an enrolled DMEPOS supplier that submits a complete application to the accreditation organizations (AOs) and has no deficiencies to correct post onsite-survey. Therefore, all enrolled DMEPOS suppliers, except those eligible professionals and other persons mentioned above, will need to submit a complete accreditation application to the AOs by January 31, 2009. This is to ensure that the DMEPOS supplier will receive an accreditation decision (provided that they meet the all the accreditation requirements) by September 30, 2009.
• Since March 1, 2008, new DMEPOS suppliers submitting an enrollment application to the NSC (excepting those eligible professionals and other persons mentioned above) must be accredited prior to submitting the application. The NSC will not approve any DMEPOS supplier's enrollment application if the enrollment package does not contain an approved accreditation upon receipt or in response to a developmental request. The NSC shall reject the enrollment application unless the DMEPOS supplier provides supporting documentation that demonstrates that the supplier has an approved accreditation.

CMS's complete fact sheet on this topic can be viewed here

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^® (NABP^®) durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) accreditation program, approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is the cost-effective and reliable choice for pharmacies seeking DMEPOS accreditation. In an effort to further its mission to protect the public health, NABP sought and was approved by CMS to accredit licensed pharmacies supplying DMEPOS products. Pharmacies accredited through the NABP DMEPOS program are doing their part to help ensure that Medicare beneficiaries receive the appropriate products, services, and patient care associated with DMEPOS products, as well as positioning themselves to be able to participate in CMS’ competitive bidding process. With more than 100 years experience in pharmacy, NABP understands the complexities of modern pharmacy practice and invites pharmacies seeking DMEPOS accreditation to apply to the NABP impartial and independent accreditation program.

Products Eligible for NABP Accreditation

NABP is approved to accredit suppliers of the following DMEPOS products:

• Diabetic equipment and supplies
• Enteral and parenteral nutrients, equipment, and supplies
• Off-the-shelf, non-custom products and supplies
  • Orthotics
  • Mobility aids
  • Wound care supplies
  • Urological aids
  • Medical supplies
  • Respiratory aids
    (A complete list is included within our Frequently Asked Questions section of the Web site.)

Three Steps to DMEPOS Accreditation

Verification of Licensure

• NABP collects documentation demonstrating that the pharmacy is licensed and in good standing with the applicable board(s) of pharmacy or state regulatory agency.
• NABP verifies pharmacy and appropriate staff licenses.
• NABP thoroughly screens the applicant through the NABP Disciplinary Clearinghouse.

Confirmation of Professional Policies and Procedures

• NABP assesses the pharmacy’s policies and procedures against CMS quality standards.
• NABP assesses the pharmacy’s compliance with CMS requirements for personnel, the pharmacy, record keeping, and patient services.

On-Site Survey of the Pharmacy

• Experienced surveyors evaluate operations, inspect the pharmacy, interview staff, and verify documents.
• NABP compares the pharmacy’s written policies and procedures with its actual practices.
• CMS requires that surveys are unannounced.

• 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