Pharmacists Push for Accreditation Exemption

Sens. John Tester, D-Mont., and Sam Brownback, R-Kan., have
introduced the Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act of
2009, a bill that would add pharmacists to the list of 17
medical professionals that are exempted from Medicare Part B
accreditation requirements. The bill is a companion to a House bill
introduced earlier this year by Reps. Marion Berry, D-Ark., and
Jerry Moran, R-Kan. In announcing the House bill, Berry pointed out
that community pharmacists “are the only licensed medical
professionals that must meet new CMS accreditation requirements as
suppliers of DMEPOS” (see “Bill
Would Exempt Pharmacists from Accreditation,” HomeCare
Monday, Jan. 26).

But CMS’ Sandra Bastinelli, who has oversight of the agency’s
DMEPOS accreditation program, has estimated there are 25,000
pharmacy locations already accredited. If a pharmacy bills Medicare
Part B for DMEPOS, it must meet the Sept. 30, 2009, accreditation
deadline, she said during an Open Door Forum Feb. 18.