Medicare Seeks Bidding Advisors

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is soliciting nominations for individuals to serve on the program advisory and oversight committee (PAOC) that advises CMS on issues relating to the competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). Nominations are due to CMS by Monday, November 3, 2008.

Because the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) delayed implementation of and made certain changes to the competitive bidding program and extended the PAOC for two years through December 31, 2011, CMS is ending the term of service for current PAOC members.

"Medicare is committed to making sure that beneficiaries and taxpayers get the highest value for their healthcare dollars, and evidence from pilot projects has proven that competitive bidding for certain types of DMEPOS items and services can be a major tool in achieving that goal," said CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems. "We look forward to working with the new PAOC members to bring people with Medicare higher quality durable medical equipment items and services at lower prices."

The PAOC will include 1012 members each from the following broad categories:

" Beneficiary/consumer representatives.

" Physicians and other practitioners.

" Suppliers.

" Professional standards organizations.

" Financial standards specialists (that is, economist/certified public accountant).

" Association representatives.

CMS may consider nominees for additional categories if it finds that their expertise will help to ensure the successful implementation of the program.

In the absence of competitive bidding, Medicare pays for DMEPOS under fee schedules derived from historical charges adjusted for inflation, even though the same items may be available at lower prices in the market. A key element of the competitive bidding program is that only accredited suppliers that meet financial and quality standards may participate in the program.

The PAOC was initially established in 2004, as required by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), to advise CMS on the design and implementation of a competitive bidding program for DMEPOS that would build on the successes of two pilot projects that had shown that competitive bidding could reduce prices of DMEPOS without adversely affecting beneficiary access or compromising quality.

According to the MMA, the POAC had the following goals and responsibilities:

" Implementing the program.

" Establishing financial standards, taking into account the needs of small providers.

" Establishing requirements for collection of data for the efficient management of the program.

" Developing proposals for efficient interaction among manufacturers, providers of services, suppliers, and individuals.

" Establishing quality standards.

"The Program Advisory and Oversight Committee has provided invaluable assistance to CMS in developing the broad framework for the DMEPOS competitive bidding program," Weems said. "As we move forward and implement the new requirements in the law, we expect the new PAOC members to offer important insight based on their real-world experience."

For more information, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/center/dme.asp

Medicare Seeks Bidding Advisors

In Memoriam: Alexander Thomas LeTourneau

In Memoriam: Donald Smerko, CP

In Memoriam: Donald Smerko, CP

O&P JOBS

HH Manager, Orthotics & Prosthetics

Orthotics and Prosthetics Assistant

Certified Orthotist — Full-Time or Part-Time, Pediatric Practice

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Medicare Seeks Bidding Advisors

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Related posts:

In Memoriam: Alexander Thomas LeTourneau

In Memoriam: Donald Smerko, CP

In Memoriam: Donald Smerko, CP

O&P JOBS

HH Manager, Orthotics & Prosthetics

Orthotics and Prosthetics Assistant

Certified Orthotist — Full-Time or Part-Time, Pediatric Practice

Get unlimited access!

EDGE DIRECT

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

Not enough quota to unlock this post