Callers Receive Few Answers at Open Door Forum

BALTIMORE–With only a year left before competitive bidding is
scheduled to begin, the subject seemed to be top-of-mind for
participants at CMS’ DME, Home Health and Hospice Open Door Forum
on Thursday. But the agency offered few answers for those who posed
questions about the impending DME bid program and related
topics.

The proposed regulation on competitive bidding–originally
expected to be released last spring–is currently in final
clearance and should be published “very soon,” a CMS project
officer announced. When a caller asked if “very soon” meant by the
end of the year, the official responded, “That’s all I can give to
you right now–very soon.”

For months, the industry has been anxiously awaiting release of
the proposed rule, which should detail how DME competitive bidding
will be implemented when it begins in 10 of the country’s largest
metropolitan statistical areas–also not yet identified–in 2007.
CMS personnel advised stakeholders to keep checking the DMEPOS
competitive bidding Web site, available by clicking
here, for updates on the coming rule.

The agency did reiterate that the final supplier quality
standards–which HME providers must meet in order to participate in
the bid–will be published in the spring of 2006.

The next DME, Home Health and Hospice Open Door Forum is
scheduled for Jan. 18.