On September 3, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) hosted an “Open Door Forum” teleconference to “provide
guidance to DMEPOS providers on the Medicare Improvements for
Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA).” During the call, CMS
announced that orthotists, prosthetists, physicians, therapists,
and other “eligible professionals” will be exempt from the
September 30, 2009, accreditation deadline for durable medical
equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) providers.
This will apply until “CMS determines [whether] the quality
standards are specifically designed to apply to such professionals
and other persons,” according to CMS. CMS cited the delay as being
pursuant to a new subparagraph (F) of section 154(b) of the MIPPA,
which states that “CMS may exempt such professionals and persons
from the quality standards based on their licensing, accreditation,
or other mandatory quality requirements that may apply.” The
deadlines for non-exempt organizations, such as pharmacies and
manufacturers, are currently January 31, 2009, for accreditation
applications and September 30, 2009, for completed
accreditation.
