CMS Posts Round 2028 Bidder Licensure Guide, Reclassifies Certain Leg & Arm Braces

WASHINGTON—The Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor has posted its state licensure guide for Round 2028 of the bidding program, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also updated the classification of some leg and arm braces, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) reported.

Here are the two new updates:

1. Round 2028 Bidder Licensure Guide

To assist suppliers interested in submitting bids in Round 2028 of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP), CMS published a DMEPOS CBP Licensure Guide for Round 2028 Bidding.

The licensure guide lists, as of November 12, the licenses CMS will be looking for in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) by the close of the bid window for each Round 2028 bid. The Licensure Guide is organized by state/territory/District of Columnia, supplier type and product category, and only lists the locations that require a license for the applicable product category.

CMS developed this guide with help from the Medicare Enrollment Contractors that regularly check with states to keep licensing information current. CMS will not apply any state licensing changes or additions it learns of after November 12, 2026, to the guide unless expressly noted.

2. CMS Updates HCPCS Level II Code Classifcations for Certain Leg & Arm Braces

CMS is updating how the product classification list (PCL) classifies certain leg and arm braces, effective December 1. The pricing, data analysis and coding (PDAC) contractor will end date-specified braces under Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II codes L1833, L1851, L1852, and L3761 from their current off-the-shelf (OTS) listings because CMS determined these braces require fitting by a certified orthotist or another specially trained individual, and therefore no longer meet the definition of an OTS device. 

Manufacturers that believe a product should be added to the PCL or is listed incorrectly can submit product information to the PDAC through the code verification review application process. For questions, contact the PDAC HCPCS Helpline at (877) 735-1326, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. prevailing Eastern Time (ET), or visit the PDAC website.

The CBIC website is the official information source for DMEPOS CBP bidders and the focal point for bidder education. It contains resources bidders need to prepare for Round 2028 of the DMEPOS CBP.