CMS announces key modifications to PMD demonstration

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Friday two key changes to the prior authorization demonstration for power mobility devices (PMD), and rescheduled the project to begin on or after June 1.

The key modifications were:

•Removal of the prepayment review phase of the demonstration project. CMS will go directly to the prior authorization phase.
•Allowing PMD providers to submit prior authorization requests to CMS on behalf of physicians.

“We appreciate that after our numerous conversations with CMS, the agency has responded to many of the concerns expressed by the HME sector,” said Tyler Wilson, president of the American Association for Homecare. “We look forward to working with CMS to ensure that the prior authorization demonstration is implemented in a way that is effective without negatively affecting beneficiaries and HME providers.”