CMS Ramps Up Rollout of Round One

BALTIMORE

While the industry’s efforts to stop national competitive bidding continue to pick up steam, so does CMS’ implementation of round one, set to take effect July 1.

On a call for beneficiary advocacy groups in early May, acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems and Laurence Wilson, director of the agency’s Chronic Care Policy Group, told listeners that savings in copays and reduced costs to Medicare would ensure beneficiaries receive quality equipment and services.

David Sayen, regional administrator for Region IX, discussed changes that will take place on July 1, including what beneficiaries should expect from their home care providers.

With representatives from over 200 advocacy groups on the call, the agency said it would send a mailing to beneficiaries in the 10 round one bidding areas with a list of contract suppliers and a program brochure. As of press time, however, CMS had not yet released the names of the contract winners.

CMS said it has set up a mailbox for beneficiaries to email questions about transition problems through its Web site, and will schedule two conference calls in July to hear from beneficiaries about transition and access issues.

The agency also has conducted the first in a series of provider training calls on competitive bidding, has revamped its Web site, released a series of MLN Matters articles on various aspects of the program and has published the first of several installments on NCB by adding a new Chapter 36 to the Medicare Claims Processing Manual.

For more information:
www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOScompetitivebid
www.dmecompetitivebid.com