Competitive Bidding Panel Meets Today

BALTIMORE–The panel advising CMS on Medicare DME competitive
bidding is meeting today and Tuesday, but panel members said they
are not expecting much new information from the agency on its
recent proposed rule.

Topics on the agenda for the Program Advisory and Oversight
Committee include an overview of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
an update on quality standards and accreditation, selection of
metropolitan statistical areas and items, payment rules, the
bidding process, small business impact, conditions for awarding
contracts, single payment amount, the rebate program and terms of
contract.

The NPRM, published May 1, outlines how CMS intends to implement
the DME bidding process in 2007. But with many details missing,
some stakeholders said they had more questions than answers. (See
HomeCare
Monday, May 1.)

According to PAOC member Dave Kazynski, president of VGM
Homelink, there are just as many questions about what’s not in the
rule as about the information it does contain. “We don’t know
where, what, how, who or when,” said Kazynski, speaking at the
American Association for Homecare Leadership Conference earlier
this month. “We don’t know where the cities will be, what products
will be included or how the [supplier] quality standards will
impact the bidding process.”

PAOC member Asela Cuervo, of the Law Offices of Asela Cuervo,
Washington, D.C., said she is also looking for clarification of the
NPRM at this week’s meeting. But she added that “under the law, CMS
is precluded from talking about what they might end up doing. This
is a proposed rule, and as an agency they really are only in a
position to explain what’s in the rule and solicit comments from
the public.”

A public comment period is scheduled today from 4:15 to 5 p.m.
EDT, and the two-day meeting will conclude Tuesday with a special
Open Door Forum from 2 to 3:30 p.m. during which stakeholders can
call in.

Cuervo noted that public comments made during the meeting are
considered informal, and do not replace the formal comment process.
“Remember that just because [someone] provides verbal comments over
the phone does not mean they shouldn’t send in their comments on
the rule,” she said. “Everyone should remember if they want their
comments to be considered, they must send them in writing.”

Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted at www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking
for official consideration. Comments are due June 30.

To participate in Tuesday’s Open Door Forum by phone, call (800)
837-1935 and reference conference ID: 8996164.

For more information on the PAOC meeting,
click here.

Do you plan to participate in Medicare DME competitive
bidding? Vote in HomeCare’s monthly Web poll at www.homecaremag.com.