I don’t fully understand what this all means, the phrase “receive an accreditation decision by September 30,2009” and submitting an application by Jan 31, 2009. This email just came today, which is Feb 2, 2009.
It states that all providers of prosthetics, orthotics (among every other DME item) must submit an application to some accediting organization.
But, at the end of this email, it lists all exempted organizations or individuals, and believe it or not, it includes prosthetists and orthotists among other health care providers. So, does this mean that all orthotists and prosthetists are exempt according to this language and email?
I know there are some people on this listserve that sit on boards or in positions that are working on this legislation and are in the loop, and if you can please share with us what this email means, and what the reasoning is behind this, and if in fact we (the orthotists and prosthetists) are exempt from this accreditation. And, if so, what is ABC’s take on this??? Have they lost out on some major opportunity to collect more money from us out here and take our hard earned money that we fight for?
Thanks
Jim DeWees, CP
Here’s a copy of the email that I got from Medicare/CMS that they send out on their listserve:
DMEPOS Accreditation Deadline is September 30, 2009
CMS Encourages Suppliers to Submit Applications by January 31, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants to ensure that suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) who bill Medicare for Part B services have ample time to complete the accreditation process and thus receive an accreditation decision by the September 30, 2009 deadline. In order to meet this deadline, CMS is encouraging all enrolled DMEPOS suppliers, except those eligible professionals and other persons exempted by law, to submit a complete accreditation application to an accreditation organization by January 31, 2009.
The accreditation requirement applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment, medical supplies, home dialysis supplies and equipment, therapeutic shoes, parenteral/enteral nutrition, transfusion medicine and prosthetic devices, prosthetics and orthotics. Pharmacies, pedorthists, mastectomy fitters, orthopedic fitters/technicians and athletic trainers must also meet the September 30, 2009 deadline for DMEPOS accreditation. A DMEPOS supplier that wishes to become accredited should contact an Accreditation Organization and obtain information about the accreditation process.
Section 302 (b) (1) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), required the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and implement quality standards for DMEPOS suppliers, except those eligible professionals and other persons exempted by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). In order to retain or obtain a Medicare Part B DMEPOS number, all DMEPOS suppliers must comply with these standards and become accredited.
Certain eligible professionals and other persons are exempted from the accreditation requirement including physicians, physical and occupational therapists, qualified speech-language pathologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse-midwives, clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, registered dietitians/nutrition professionals, orthotists, prosthetists, opticians and audiologists.
Further information on the DMEPOS accreditation requirements along with a list of the accreditation organizations may be found at www.cms.hhs.gov/medicareprovidersupenroll.
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