Competitive Bidding Rule Slated for September

Washington

It’s on the official calendar: A proposed rule on DME competitive bidding is slated for release in September, according to the Federal Register’s semi-annual regulatory agenda.

The proposed rule is expected to detail exactly how CMS will implement the national bidding program, which is scheduled to begin in 10 of the nation’s largest metropolitan statistical areas in 2007. The criteria that will be used to select these areas — which will not necessarily be the 10 largest in the country — has been a major concern during past meetings of the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee, which is charged with advising CMS on implementing the program.

PAOC members also expect the notice of proposed rule making to address a number of related issues, including which products will be part of the bidding process, formulas that will be used to calculate payments and requirements that providers must meet to participate.

This summer, CMS is expected to release a draft of supplier quality standards — which will be required of every provider who participates in the Medicare program, not just those who participate in competitive biding. The final rule for NCB is expected to be published by early summer 2006.