The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a new MLN Matters article about its competitive bidding program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS). The article provides an overview of and the rationale for the bidding program and is meant for physicians, non-physician providers, and suppliers of DMEPOS who will be submitting Medicare claims.
In a section titled “Implementation Overview,” it states, “Medicare is currently evaluating bids suppliers submitted in 2009 and expects to announce the competitive bidding payment rates resulting from the competition in June 2010. Medicare plans to announce the contract suppliers in September 2010, and the program is scheduled to go into effect in the nine Round One Rebid areas on January 1, 2011. Medicare will begin the supplier competition for the next phase (Round Two) of the program in 2011.
The Round One Rebid areas are as follows:
- Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord (North Carolina and South Carolina).
- Cincinnati-Middletown (Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana).
- Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor (Ohio).
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (Texas).
- Kansas City (Missouri and Kansas).
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach (Florida).
- Orlando (Florida).
- Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario (California).
The Round One Rebid product categories are the following:
- Oxygen supplies and equipment.
- Standard power wheelchairs, scooters, and related accessories.
- Complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs and related accessories (Group 2 only).
- Mail-order diabetic supplies.
- Enteral nutrients, equipment, and supplies.
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines and Respiratory Assist Devices (RADs) and related supplies and accessories.
- Hospital beds and related accessories.
- Walkers and related accessories.
- Support surfaces (Group 2 mattresses and overlays in Miami only).”
CMS has made available the first in a series of program-preview documents, which are intended for providers, but specifically not for beneficiaries, according to CMS. The program-preview documents can be accessed at www.cms.hhs.gov/Partnerships/03_DMEPOS_Toolkit.asp
