Moratorium on DME Medicare Enrollment Ends

WASHINGTON—The temporary six-month moratorium on durable medical equipment (DME) supplier enrollment in Medicare ended on Aug. 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced. 

CMS’s competitive bidding update site sent notice on Aug. 27 that contractors are once again accepting new enrollment applications for DME, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS), warning that suppliers planning to join in Round 2028 of the competitive bidding program should submit their enrollment applications as soon as possible to allow time before the bidding window opens. 

“If you are planning to bid in Round 2028 of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program (CBP), you should submit any completed enrollment applications as soon as possible to provide the Medicare Enrollment Contractors maximum time to process your application before the DMEPOS CBP Round 2028 bidding window opens,” the notice said. 

The moratorium on new provider transaction access numbers was announced Feb. 25 (but became official Feb. 27) in a move that federal leaders said would give them more time to work out a clearer anti-fraud strategy. The similar moratoria for home health agencies and hospices is still in place. 

“We appreciate CMS’ decision to let this moratorium run its course rather than extend it further,” Tom Ryan, president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare), said in a statement released shortly after the announcement. “But let’s be clear; the industry isn’t looking for less scrutiny of fraud, waste and abuse. Technology-driven safeguards, like the electronic verification of physician orders the (Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, or OIG) recommended in its recent white paper, along with tools our industry has already invested in, like e-prescribing, are the kind of protections that keep bad actors out without punishing legitimate suppliers.”

AAHomecare also said that report from the OIG, which made specific recommendations for CMS to combat fraud, “confirms what our members have said for years—criminals exploit weak enrollment screening and manipulated physician orders, not the legitimate suppliers who deliver wheelchairs, oxygen and other essential equipment and supplies to millions of Americans every day.”

The bid program email also said suppliers should keep in mind that delays in submitting an application may result in it not being processed in time for bidding window, and tha tthey should ensure all required documentation is complete and accurate to avoid processing delays.

It listed out these next steps: 

• Submit all enrollment application information to ensure you are eligible to bid in Round 2028 as soon as possible.
• Verify that your application includes all required supporting documentation.
• Monitor your application status through the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System or contact your respective Medicare enrollment contractor for status updates

The Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor also added new frequently asked questions on its website on Aug. 27, and it said more bidding information, including key dates and requirements, will be available in the coming weeks.