CMS Releases Draft of HME Supplier Quality Standards

BALTIMORE–CMS released its long-awaited draft of proposed
quality standards for HME suppliers on Friday, just in time for
discussion at a special CMS Open Door Forum scheduled for this
afternoon.

The 104-page document, developed by CMS contractor Abt
Associates, Cambridge, Mass., includes two sections, one that
details business standards that apply to all suppliers, and another
that focuses on standards for suppliers specializing in specific
products and categories.

Mandated under the Medicare Modernization Act, the quality
standards will at some point be required of all DMEPOS suppliers
who want to do business with Medicare Part B–including to receive
and maintain a supplier billing number–not just those who want to
participate in CMS’ competitive bidding program, set to begin in
2007. Some industry stakeholders have argued that the standards
need to be finalized and implemented before bidding begins;
otherwise, they say, companies with the lowest level of service and
lowest cost component could win.

The proposed business standards outline requirements in eight
areas: administration, financial management, human resource
management, beneficiary services, performance management, equipment
and safety, beneficiary rights and ethics and information
management.

The product-specific section gives details of supplier service
standards and requirements for inspection, delivery/set-up,
beneficiary education/training and follow-up in 13 categories:
oxygen and oxygen equipment; home invasive mechanical ventilation
therapy; non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure and
bi-level positive airway pressure; intermittent positive pressure
breathing; power wheelchairs; manual wheelchairs; diabetic
equipment and supplies; customized orthotics and prosthetics;
enteral nutrition; electric and manual hospital beds; support
surfaces; walkers, canes and crutches; commodes; and bedpans and
urinals.

The product-specific service section “is a continuing work in
progress” and is expected to be completed by January 2006,
according to the draft, which also states that, because of the
“complexity of the clinical monitoring required for some areas of
DMEPOS,” suppliers will be accredited “only when they meet business
quality standards as well as those quality standards that apply to
the specific products for which the supplier has applied through
Medicare to market and distribute.”

Next, CMS must choose accrediting bodies to enforce the
standards. The agency is expected to roll out a regulation
explaining how accreditation organizations can apply for “deemed
status” and has said it will name approved accrediting bodies by
the end of the year.

CMS is hosting a Special Open Door Forum to give an overview of
the standards today from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT. Officials from
Abt Associates will be on hand with CMS officials and policy
specialists to take questions and comments. To participate by
phone, call (800) 837-1935 and reference Conference ID number
8914408.

A draft of the standards is posted on CMS’ Web sites at www.cms.hhs.gov/suppliers/dmepos/compbid/default.asp
and at www.cms.hhs.gov/suppliers/dmepos/default.asp.

CMS will accept comments on the standards through Nov. 28.
Comments may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected].