2009 Accreditation Deadline Stands

BALTIMORE–The passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients
and Providers Act has competitive bidding on hold, but CMS is
reminding providers that the mandatory accreditation deadline of
Sept. 30, 2009, still stands.

As a result of the competitive bidding delay, however, the
accreditation deadlines associated with round two of the
program–one that would have been effective today–have been
cancelled. According to a notice issued Friday afternoon, CMS
said:

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of
2008 was enacted on July 15, 2008. This new law has delayed the
Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and
Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. As a result of this
delay, the special accreditation deadlines previously established
for the second round of the program have been cancelled.
Specifically, prior to enactment of this new law, suppliers must
have been accredited or have applied for accreditation by July 21,
2008, to be eligible to submit a bid for the second round of
competitive bidding and must have obtained accreditation by Jan.
14, 2009, to be eligible for a second round contract. Both of these
deadlines have been cancelled and no longer apply.

The deadline of Sept. 30, 2009, that was previously
established by which all DMEPOS suppliers must be accredited is
still in effect.

In the third in a series of four planned accreditation
teleconferences last week, CMS’ Sandra Bastinelli reminded
providers that anyone providing HME must be accredited by Sept. 30,
2009. No exceptions.

“This is not competitive bidding. And I think you already
had many calls on competitive bidding and you know where that
stands,” Bastinelli told listeners.

“Who does the [accreditation] law actually relate to? It
relates to anyone [providing DMEPOS items], she continued. “And the
majority of the questions that we received were ‘We are in this
practice or we are in that practice. I only bill for two supplies a
year, and I only have this one supply.’ The statute does not say
anything about volume or site of care. What it states is all DMEPOS
suppliers must comply with quality standards–and that means to be
accredited–in order to retain or obtain a Medicare Part B payment
for DMEPOS.”

The teleconference, held June 15–just hours before Congress
voted to override President Bush’s veto of the new Medicare
legislation–outlined the basic requirements for accreditation, and
stressed that all entities providing HME must be accredited by one
of CMS’ selected 10 accrediting bodies. But despite CMS’ clarity on
the issue, many providers called asking variations of the same
question: “Do I need to get accredited?”

Other questions included how much accreditation costs and which
accrediting body provided accreditation “the
fastest.”

CMS responded that accreditation costs vary among accrediting
bodies. As for which accreditors are quickest? “If you’re
looking for the shortest way, you are missing the point,”
said Bastinelli, emphasizing that accreditation is meant to ensure
that patients are receiving the highest quality of care.

She advised providers should expect at least six months to
complete the accreditation process.

A replay of the teleconference is available through July 22 at
800/642-1687. Use passcode 49364905.