Here’s the 411 on Competitive Bidding Help

ATLANTA — The questions are endless and the answers seem
few, but there is help for home medical equipment providers on the
intricacies of competitive
bidding.

National and state associations, buying groups and manufacturers
are stepping forward with an array of conferences, seminars and
Web-based training to assist in everything from understanding CMS’
competitive bidding final rule to placing a bid.

Among the offerings:

May 8-10: While information technology will be
a focus at The MED Group’s Reimbursement & IT Conference at the
Hyatt Riverfront in Jacksonville, Fla., topics will also include
preparing for competitive bidding, changes in Medicare and
roundtable discussions with peers. Details: www.medgroup.com

May 9: “Understanding the Realities of
Competitive Bidding, Network Opportunities and Accreditation,”
presented by the Midwest Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers
and The VGM Group at the Four Point Sheraton, Kansas City Airport,
Kansas City, Mo., will include an overview of the competitive
bidding final rule, preparations and options for submitting a bid
and an analysis of the short- and long-term impact on HME
providers. Details: http://www.vgmeducation.com/traveling_education.asp,
or contact MAMES at (651) 351-5395

May 9-10: “Competitive Bidding, Accreditation,
Reimbursement Changes: Your Medicare Survival Toolkit,” sponsored
by the American Association for Homecare, will be held at the
Marriott Houston Intercontinental Hotel. Topics include navigating
competitive bidding, tools to achieve accreditation and best
business practices for reimbursement changes. Details: www.aahomecare.org

May 14-15: “Essential Pieces to the Healthcare
Puzzle,” sponsored by the New York Medical Equipment Providers
association, will be held at the Crowne Plaza, White Plains, N.Y.
Topics range from competitive bidding to new market opportunities.
Details: www.nymep.org

May 16: “Understanding the Realities of
Competitive Bidding, Network Opportunities and Accreditation,”
presented by the California Association of Medical Product
Suppliers and VGM, is scheduled at the Ontario Airport Marriott,
Ontario, Calif. Details: http://www.vgmeducation.com/traveling_education.asp,
or www.campsone.org

May 24: A “National Competitive Bidding
Seminar” will be presented by the North Carolina Association of
Medical Equipment Services and VGM at the Hilton Charlotte
University Place. Details: http://www.vgmeducation.com/traveling_education.asp,
or contact NCAMES at (919) 387-1221

June 4: Medtrade Conferences on the Road will
present “Turning a Challenge into an Opportunity: How to Succeed
with Competitive Bidding” at the Hilton Miami Airport. Topics
include bid preparation, the pros and cons of network bidding, a
walk through the bid application process and survival steps if you
are not a successful bidder. Details: Visit www.medtrade.com, and click “Medtrade
Conferences on the Road”

June 5-7: “Homecare at Risk,” AAHomeCare’s
annual Legislative Conference, is set at the J.W. Marriott,
Washington, D.C., with a state issues roundtable, an inside look at
CMS and Capitol Hill appointments for attendees. Details: www.aahomecare.org.

June 11-14: VGM’s Heartland Conference (for
members only) will be held at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention
Center in Waterloo, Iowa. Along with eight seminar tracks,
discussion of competitive bidding and a variety of networking
events are planned. Details: http://www.heartland2007.com

Providers who can’t attend any of these events can still get
help online.

HME retail consultant Jack Evans of Malibu, Calif.-based Global
Media Marketing, in concert with several other industry consultants
and the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, has
put together three Webinars on accreditation and competitive
bidding, including: “How to Succeed with Competitive Bidding” with
speaker Jeffrey Baird of Brown & Fortunato, PC, on May 10;
“Step-by-Step Accreditation: What You Need to Know” with speaker
Mary Ellen Conway of Capital Healthcare Group, May 17; and
“Mandatory Accreditation is Here” with speaker Tom Cesar of the
Accreditation Commission for Health Care, May 23. Details: http://www.hmeducation.com/

Providers can also find a wealth of competitive bidding
information from Invacare, The MED Group, Sunrise Medical and VGM
on their respective sites at: www.invacare.com; www.medgroup.com; www.sunrisemedical.com; and www.vgm.com.

For official bidding information from the Competitive Bidding
Implementation Contractor, link to the CBIC Web site here.

For questions, call the CBIC competitive bidding helpline at
(877) 577-5331.