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Fast Facts

DMEPOS competitive bidding process will begin April 2007.
CMS has announced the 10 MSAs where competitive bidding will be introduced.
CMS has announced the product categories included in the first competitive bidding project.
The Final Rule governing competitive bidding ensures that at least 30 percent of bid winners are small businesses.
Suppliers must obtain accreditation to participate in competitive bidding. The ONLY exception to the rule is a pharmacy that maintains a Part B supplier billing number to submit Part B drug claims and administer vaccinations.
Ten agencies have been approved to accredit suppliers of DMEPOS.

Important Links:

Is My Pharmacy in One of the 10 MSAs?

By William Popomaronis, R.Ph.

Attorney Denise Fletcher of Brown and Fortunato, P.C., (http://www.bf-law.com/) turned me on to a government website that helps identify the counties included in the nation's Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), including those named by CMS to participate in the 2007 competitive bidding project.

Denise is a member of the firm's Health Care Group, where she has a national health care practice. Along with Group Chairman Jeffrey Baird, they counsel and advise pharmacists and other providers on issues such as Medicare reimbursement rules and anti-kickback and Stark statutes.

For the last three years, they have volunteered their time to speak at NCPA convention workshops on durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) issues important to independent community pharmacies.

The counties included in the MSAs are listed at
http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/
metro_general/List4.txt.

This list was updated in January of 2006 and may not reflect the most recent additions or deletions from the MSAs. I expect CMS to provide clarifying guidance on MSAs shortly.

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.


	Sponsored by Fast Facts DMEPOS competitive bidding process will begin April 2007. CMS has announced the 10 MSAs where competitive bidding will be introduced. CMS has announced the product categories included in the first competitive bidding project. The Final Rule governing competitive bidding ensures that at least 30 percent of bid winners are small businesses. Suppliers must obtain accreditation to participate in competitive bidding. The ONLY exception to the rule is a pharmacy that maintains a Part B supplier billing number to submit Part B drug claims and administer vaccinations. Ten agencies have been approved to accredit suppliers of DMEPOS. Important Links: Medicare DME Home Page Medicare DME blog Medicare DMe-Alert Archive Is My Pharmacy in One of the 10 MSAs? By William Popomaronis, R.Ph. Attorney Denise Fletcher of Brown and Fortunato, P.C., (http://www.bf-law.com/) turned me on to a government website that helps identify the counties included in the nation's Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), including those named by CMS to participate in the 2007 competitive bidding project. Denise is a member of the firm's Health Care Group, where she has a national health care practice. Along with Group Chairman Jeffrey Baird, they counsel and advise pharmacists and other providers on issues such as Medicare reimbursement rules and anti-kickback and Stark statutes. For the last three years, they have volunteered their time to speak at NCPA convention workshops on durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) issues important to independent community pharmacies. The counties included in the MSAs are listed at http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/ metro_general/List4.txt. This list was updated in January of 2006 and may not reflect the most recent additions or deletions from the MSAs. I expect CMS to provide clarifying guidance on MSAs shortly.

	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.