BALTIMORE — In a list-serv message this afternoon, the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the
following timeline for the Round 1 rebid of Medicare's DMEPOS competitive bidding
program:
8/3/2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces
timeline/schedule of education events, begins bidder education
campaign
8/17/2009*
Registration for user IDs and passwords begins.
9/30/2009
Last day for DMEPOS suppliers to get accredited
10/2/2009
DMEPOS supplier surety bond deadline
10/21/2009*
CMS opens 60-day bid window for Round 1 Rebid
11/21/2009*
Covered Document Review Date for bidders to submit financial
documents
12/21/2009*
60-day bid window closes
June 2010
CMS announces single payment amounts, begins contracting
process
September 2010
CMS announces contract suppliers, begins contract supplier
education campaign
Early Fall 2010
CMS begins supplier, referral agent, and beneficiary education
campaign
1/1/2011
New program begins!
*Target date. Actual date will be announced through an e-mail
notice.
The agency also said it is launching "an intensive bidder
education campaign designed to ensure that DMEPOS suppliers
interested in bidding get all the information they need to submit a
complete bid in a timely manner."
CMS said it will focus initially on preparing suppliers for the
registration period. As suppliers get registered for the
competitive bidding process, CMS education and outreach efforts
will intensify with particular focus on information specific to
registered bidders and the bidding process.
According to the notice:
"CMS' Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) will
be the focal point for bidder education. The CBIC's dedicated
website, www.dmecompetitivebid.com, will include a
comprehensive array of important information for suppliers,
including bidding rules, user guides, frequently asked questions,
policy fact sheets, checklists, and bidding information charts. The
CBIC toll-free help desk, 1-877-577-5331, is now open to help
bidders with all of their questions and concerns. All suppliers
interested in bidding are urged to sign up for email updates on the
home page of the CBIC website."
Visit the CMS website at www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/ for the latest
information on the DMEPOS competitive bidding program.
