What's New

“CMS announces deadline date, of January 31, 2009, for all suppliers that still need to obtain accreditation, by the September 30, 2009, deadline date. CMS indicated that the accreditation process can take up to nine months to complete. Providers who do not have an application submitted, with one of the authorized accreditation organizations, cannot be assured that they will obtain accreditation, by the deadline date, of September 30, 2009. Based on clarifications, provided by CMS, the following provider types must meet the deadline date of September 30, 2009:

Durable Medical Equipment
Pharmacies
Nursing Homes

Those who do not meet this deadline will have their Medicare Part B supplier number, along with all billing privileges, revoked on October 1, 2009.

Other provider types (i.e. podiatrist, Orthotics & Prosthetics, physicians, opticians, etc.) do not have to meet this deadline. CMS will further review and define the Quality Standards that must by met by these provider types, and will make future announcements.

Competitive Bidding Law Delayed

The "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008," the legislation delays the DMEPOS competitive bidding program to allow time for critical process improvements and other reforms to bidding and HME policy.

The CMS Quality Standards and Accreditation Requirements are still in place. The delay in the competitive bidding program did not eliminate the Medicare requirement that all providers must obtain accreditation by September 30, 2009, or they will lose their billing privileges for all DMEPOS Medicare Part B services.