PDMEPOS Competitive Bidding is Back! Here’s the important information you NEED to know.

August 17, 2009

“On August 3, 2009 CMS issued the bidding timeline for the Round 1 Rebid of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program.” (www.dmecompetitivebid.com)

This timeline is as follows:

August 17, 2009                  Registration for user Ids and passwords begins.
September 30, 2009           Last Day for DMEPOS suppliers to get accredited.
October 2, 2009                   DMEPOS supplier surety bond deadline.
October 21, 2009                CMA opens 60-day bid window for Round 1 Rebid
November 21, 2009            Covered Document Review Date to submit financial documents
December 21, 2009            60-day bid window closes
June 2010                             CMS announces single payment amounts, begins contracting
process
September 2010                 CMS announces contract suppliers, begins contract supplier
education
January 1, 2011                  New Program Begins!

Originally there were ten Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) included in Round 1 of the Competitive Bidding Program but this time around Puerto Rico is excluded leaving these MSAs:

• Cincinnati – Middletown
• Cleveland – Elyria
• Charlotte – Gastonia
• Dallas – Fort Worth
• Kansas City –
• Miami – Fort Lauderdale
• Orlando
• Pittsburgh
• Riverside – San Bernardino

 

Note:  These bidding areas are identified by counties and zip codes.  A list of Round 1 Rebid Zip codes can be found at www.dmecompetitivebid.com in the section titled Competitive Bidding Areas which is under the About the Program area.

If you are a supplier who wants to bid you need to be prepared now!

Here are four key things you must have in place to qualify for the competitive bidding program:

• NSC Files Updated:  DMEPOS standards require that ALL files are up to date, all changes filed with NSC to be able to participate in the program.
• You MUST be Licensed:  suppliers submitting bid must meet ALL state licensure requirements, evidence of which must be on file with NSC as these WILL BE verified.
• You MUST be Accredited:  CMS has mandated that DMEPOS suppliers must be accredited by September 30, 2009 or you are at risk of having Medicare Part B billing privileges revoked.  This is a requirement for this program.
• You MUST get Bonded:  CMS mandates that certain suppliers must be bonded by October 2, 2009 or you are at risk of having Medicare Part B billing privileges revoked.  This is also a requirement for this program.  To find information about surety binding go to www.fms.treas.gov/c570/c570_a-z.html

Now you know where you stand if you are in the Round 1 Rebid MSAs and what is required of those of you who will fall in the successive rebid rounds.  It can be confusing as there is definitely a lot that is required.

 

SCMI’s team of DME consulting specialists can assist you in your competitive bidding program preparation. Our team has over 75 years of experience in DME.
Call our office at 1-888-556-2203 for more information on SCMI’s competitive bidding preparation, DME accreditation services and more.
Or visit our website at www.sleepcmi.com.