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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:

DMEPOS Bidding 'Drop Dead' Dates Announced

By William Popomaronis, R.Ph.

Suppliers planning to competitively bid on ANY of the 10 DMEPOS product categories should thoroughly understand the CMS instructions and performance timelines highlighted in bold and underlined below.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now soliciting bids for the first round of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. All bids are due by 9 p.m. Eastern Time on July 13, 2007. The contract period for mail order diabetic supplies is April 1, 2008 – December 31, 2009. The contract period for all other first round product categories is April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2011.

The first round competitive bidding areas (CBAs) and product categories were announced on April 2, 2007. CMS has issued for each CBA a detailed chart providing important bidding information for suppliers. Suppliers should use these charts when preparing their bids. Bidders will submit their bids using an Internet-based bid submission system. The CBAs, product categories, bidding information charts, and full instructions for submitting a bid are located on the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) website: www.dmecompetitivebid.com.

Suppliers interested in bidding must first register and receive a User ID and Password before they can access the Internet-based bid submission system. Suppliers should register immediately to avoid a delay in being able to submit bids. The registration deadline is June 30, 2007. For information on how to register and bid, visit: www.dmecompetitivebid.com.

Also, in order to participate in the program, suppliers must meet quality standards and be accredited by a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved Deemed Accreditation Organization. Suppliers must be accredited or be pending accreditation to submit a bid. The accreditation deadline for the first round of competitive bidding is August 31, 2007. Suppliers must be accredited before this date to be awarded a contract. Suppliers should apply for accreditation immediately to allow adequate time to process their applications. For a list of the CMS-approved Deemed Accreditation Organizations, visit: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS/.

CMS and the CBIC have issued important supplier educational materials, including a supplier tool kit, fact sheets, web-cast, and frequently asked questions (FAQs). To access these materials, visit: www.dmecompetitivebid.com.

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 DMEPOS Bidding 'Drop Dead' Dates Announced By William Popomaronis, R.Ph. Suppliers planning to competitively bid on ANY of the 10 DMEPOS product categories should thoroughly understand the CMS instructions and performance timelines highlighted in bold and underlined below. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now soliciting bids for the first round of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. All bids are due by 9 p.m. Eastern Time on July 13, 2007. The contract period for mail order diabetic supplies is April 1, 2008 – December 31, 2009. The contract period for all other first round product categories is April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2011. The first round competitive bidding areas (CBAs) and product categories were announced on April 2, 2007. CMS has issued for each CBA a detailed chart providing important bidding information for suppliers. Suppliers should use these charts when preparing their bids. Bidders will submit their bids using an Internet-based bid submission system. The CBAs, product categories, bidding information charts, and full instructions for submitting a bid are located on the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) website: www.dmecompetitivebid.com. Suppliers interested in bidding must first register and receive a User ID and Password before they can access the Internet-based bid submission system. Suppliers should register immediately to avoid a delay in being able to submit bids. The registration deadline is June 30, 2007. For information on how to register and bid, visit: www.dmecompetitivebid.com. Also, in order to participate in the program, suppliers must meet quality standards and be accredited by a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved Deemed Accreditation Organization. Suppliers must be accredited or be pending accreditation to submit a bid. The accreditation deadline for the first round of competitive bidding is August 31, 2007. Suppliers must be accredited before this date to be awarded a contract. Suppliers should apply for accreditation immediately to allow adequate time to process their applications. For a list of the CMS-approved Deemed Accreditation Organizations, visit: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS/. CMS and the CBIC have issued important supplier educational materials, including a supplier tool kit, fact sheets, web-cast, and frequently asked questions (FAQs). To access these materials, visit: www.dmecompetitivebid.com.

	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.