You've got to love it!

By William Popomaronis, R.Ph.

You have GOT to love CareFirst of Maryland, Inc., dba CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst). CMS has not yet released the first 10 MSAs for 2007, the DMEPOS product categories, or the date that all suppliers wishing to maintain their supplier numbers must obtain accreditation, and here comes a letter from CareFirst informing suppliers serving the private insurer's DMEPOS network that they too are changing their credentialing standards. Expect this trend to move across the country!

This may not be a bad thing if the new recredentialing requirements allow suppliers to use any of the 10 CMS approved accreditation agencies, instead of higher priced alternatives like the Joint Commission. Nothing against Joint Commission, mind you.

DMEPOS suppliers should contact the networks management departments of insurers requiring recredentialing to confirm that the accreditation agency you are using to comply with CMS standards meets the private insurer’s participation requirements.

For more information, visit the DME Resouce Center on Pharmacist e-Link at http://www.pharmacistelink.com/medicaredme/

  
 
 

William Popomaronis, R.Ph., is vice president, long term and home health care services for the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). He is also the only pharmacist member of Medicare’s Program Advisory and Oversight Committee (PAOC), which provides advice on the development and implementation of the DME Competitive Acquisition Program.

  
 
  Bayer HealthCare, Diabetes Care, has underwritten the costs of this communication. The information expressed in this communication are the views of NCPA. Bayer is not responsible for the accuracy of the information expressed in this communication. Any questions related to DME Accreditation and/or Competitive Bidding for DMEPOS should be directed to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or NCPA.