CMS Formalizes Accreditation Mandate

BALTIMORE–In a formal change request issued Friday afternoon,
CMS said all DMEPOS providers who bill Part B must be accredited
before being awarded a contract under Medicare’s upcoming national
bidding competition–and to do business with the program.

The agency also formalized its mandate that all HME providers
submitting bids meet both its business and product-specific service
standards (see HomeCare Monday, Aug. 21, 2006) and be
accredited by a CMS-approved accrediting body.

“This change request provides a new instruction to inform DMEPOS
suppliers that they must comply with DMEPOS Quality Standards. This
instruction indicates that a DMEPOS supplier must be accredited in
order to receive and retain a supplier billing number and receive
Medicare Part B payments for DMEPOS items or services,” the request
said.

The request also cited an implementation date of April 2,
although a CMS spokeswoman confirmed that “all suppliers will have
to be accredited, but we haven’t set a deadline.” Another source
said Friday that the transmittal could be reissued to avoid any
confusion over deadlines.

Industry stakeholders have been on tenterhooks in recent weeks
as they wait for CMS to issue a final rule on competitive bidding
and announce the 10 metropolitan areas where the first round of
bidding will begin. According to the agency’s current timeline,
providers in the 10 cities it selects should be accredited by
spring, with the bidding program slated to get underway in
October.

To view CMS’ Medicare Part B supplier standards, click here.

For a list of CMS’ deemed accrediting organizations and
information about what each is approved to accredit, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS.