‘Are You Ready?’ CMS Asks; Agency Releases Ombudsman Info

BALTIMORE–Even as the industry fights down to the wire to delay
competitive bidding, CMS wants to know: Are you ready?

In a list-serv message sent Wednesday, CMS said, “The
Medicare DMEPOS competitive bidding program begins July 1–just two
weeks away–Are you prepared?”

According to the message, “If your practice location is in
one of the 10 CBAs, you probably will be affected. If you are not
located in a CBA, but treat Medicare patients who permanently
reside in a CBA, you also need to understand the program. Be ready
for July 1st, 2008.”

CMS recommended checking its competitive bidding Web site at
www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOScompetitivebid.
“All the information that you need to know as a DMEPOS
supplier or an enrolled Medicare provider who refers beneficiaries
for DMEPOS is available on the CMS DMEPOS competitive bidding
dedicated Web site,” the message said.

Last week, the agency posted two CBA zip code files on the CBIC
Web site at www.dmecompetitivebid.com, one containing mail
order zip codes and another containing non-mail order zip codes per
CBA. The files will be updated on a quarterly basis “to reflect
changes in zip codes included in the various CBAs,” CMS said.
“Although the boundaries of a CBA will not change during a
competitive bidding contract period, zip codes in general do change
from time to time (e.g., when one zip code/area is subdivided into
two or more new zip codes/areas, etc.).”

The agency also released information on its competitive bidding
ombudsman program. With eight ombudsmen located witihin the initial
CBAs, “the ombudsmen’s role is to investigate and address
complaints by providers, suppliers and beneficiaries specifically
related to the competitive bidding program,” CMS said.

You may contact an ombudsman:

–For general information about the DMEPOS competitive bidding
program;
–To obtain assistance in locating a contract supplier;
–For educational programs and activities;
–To report concerns about the program, a supplier or a referral
agent;
–About the quality of services or items, and/or suspected fraud or
abuse; and
–For assistance with questions, issues and complaints specifically
pertaining to the competitive bidding program and policies.

A list of the ombudsmen with contact information is available on
the CBIC Web site at www.dmecompetitivebid.com.