CMS Provides DMEPOS Suppliers Information on Round 2 of Competitive Bidding

October 6, 2011 9:34 am Topics: Dmepos

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released additional information for suppliers submitting bids in round 2 of the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program process. CMS reminds suppliers planning to submit bids to prepare by:

• Updating contact information with the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC), including the name, Social Security number, and date of birth for all authorized official(s) and the correspondence address. The online Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System may be used to submit changes. The NSC Web site provides instructions for submitting a change of information via hard copy.
• Ensuring that DMEPOS state licensure requirements and other applicable state licensure requirements, if any, are met for the relevant product category for every state in the competitive bidding area (CBA).
• Ensuring that copies of the applicable state licenses are on file with the NSC. Suppliers with more than one location that are bidding in a CBA that includes more than one state, must have all required licenses for the product category for every state in that CBA.
• Obtaining accreditation for all items in a product category in order to submit a bid for that product category. CMS cannot contract with suppliers that are not accredited by a CMS-approved accreditation organization. Additional information on the DMEPOS accreditation requirements may be found on the CMS Web site.

Although specific dates have not been released, in fall 2011, CMS will:

• Announce the bidding schedule
• Begin the bidder education program
• Open the bidder registration period for obtaining user IDs and passwords

CMS indicates that bidding is scheduled to begin in winter 2012. The Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor Web site (www.DMECompetitiveBid.com) will continue to provide the latest information on the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program for DMEPOS suppliers.

Information about the NABP DMEPOS accreditation program is available on the NABP Web site.