Important Information about DMEPOS Accreditation and Medicare Billing Numbers

• On Tuesday‚ October 13‚ 2009‚ President Obama signed into law a bill that:
• delays the requirement for retail pharmacies to obtain DMEPOS accreditation to continue billing Medicare Part B for specific DME items (This does not affect the accreditation requirement for pharmacies to qualify for bidding in a competitive acquisition area); and
• extends the deadline for pharmacies to become DMEPOS accredited to January 1‚ 2010. The previous deadline was September 30‚ 2009.
• Although pharmacies should contact the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) with questions about the status of their Medicare enrollment number‚ NABP understands that at this time:
• pharmacies are not subject to the revocation of their Medicare Part B billing privileges;
• any pharmacy that submitted a request to voluntarily terminate their Medicare billing number may now withdraw this request and continue billing DMEPOS items to Medicare Part B;
• to withdraw a previously submitted voluntary termination request‚ the pharmacy should submit a letter to the NSC. Please note that this letter:
• must be signed by the authorized official;
• must be received by the NSC no later than October 23‚ 2009;
• may be faxed to the NSC at the fax number specific to geographic regions (Please check your region by clicking on the region name below.)
• Eastern Region:        803/382-2405
• Central Region:         803/382-2408
• Western Region:       803/382-2406
• NABP’s DMEPOS applicants may be interested in participating in the next Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Home Health‚ Hospice & DME Open Door Forum:
• This call is scheduled for Wednesday‚ October 21‚ 2009‚ from 2 PM - 3 PM ET.
• All participants that wish to participate should dial 1-800/837-1935‚ Conference ID 31208403.
• For more information‚ please see the CMS Web site.

Important Actions Required to Meet DMEPOS Supplier Accreditation and Surety Bond Requirements Before October Deadlines

Per CMS, “Medicare suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS), unless exempt, must be accredited and obtain a surety bond by October 1, 2009 and October 2, 2009, respectively.”
In addition, the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) requires that DMEPOS suppliers update their Medicare Enrollment Application (also known as the CMS-855S)  concurrent with DMEPOS accreditation or risk NSC revocation of the Medicare billing number. Please review the following information and take action as necessary:

• CMS has advised that DMEPOS suppliers who obtain accreditation after September 1, 2009 but before October 1, 2009, should submit proof of accreditation to the NSC via submission of an amendment to their CMS-855S by September 30, 2009. Sections 1, 2, and 15 or 16 should be completed. In particular, section 2G should provide the accreditation information.
• CMS further advised that applicants concerned that they will not be accredited by September 30, 2009 may wish to voluntarily terminate their NSC or Medicare billing number rather than risk possible revocation. To voluntarily terminate your enrollment in the Medicare program, complete the appropriate sections on page 4 of CMS-855S. After completing the applicable sections, the authorized or delegated official should sign, date, and mail the completed termination request to the NSC.

Contact Information National Supplier Clearinghouse:

• Web site: http://www.palmettogba.com/nsc
• Contact:  James.Bossenmeyer@cms.hhs.gov
• Toll-free phone number: 1-866/238-9652 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. EST to reach a customer service representative. The automated response system is available 24 hours a day.
• The completed CMS-855S must be mailed to the NSC as soon as possible; the NSC must receive it before October 1, 2009. (See addresses below.)

US/Regular Mailing Address:
National Supplier Clearinghouse
Post Office Box 100142
Columbia, SC 29202-3142
Phone: 1-866-238-9652

Overnight Mailing Address:
National Supplier Clearinghouse
Palmetto GBA* AG-495
2300 Springdale Drive, Bldg. 1
Camden, SC 29020

Contact Information for CMS:

• Web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ContactCMS/
• Contact: Barry.Bromberg@cms.hhs.gov
• Toll-free phone number: 1-877/267-2323
• CMS-855S Form is available here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/cmsforms/downloads/cms855s.pdf

CMS has also advised that DMEPOS suppliers enrolled in Medicare are required to obtain and submit a $50,000 bond for each National Provider Identifier (NPI) by October 2, 2009 to the NSC. While the surety bond is not required for accreditation, it is required to retain your Medicare billing number. See the NSC's Surety Bond FAQ for more information or visit the US Department of Treasury Web site for a list of certified surety bond companies.  

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