CMS Launches Competitive Bidding Web Site

BALTIMORE–In anticipation of the final rule regarding national
competitive bidding, CMS introduced its DMEPOS Competitive Bidding
Implementation Contractor Web site last week.

Administered by Palmetto GBA, the designated CBIC, the Web site
is available at www.dmecompetitivebid.com.

Most of the pages are under construction pending issuance of the
final rule, but once completed, providers will be able to access
information on the bid application process, the cities in which
competitive bidding is active, educational tools and accreditation
requirements, among a host of other topics.

As the CBIC, Palmetto will perform a variety of functions,
including preparing the request for bids, evaluating the bids,
helping to monitor the program’s effectiveness and quality and
sponsoring education programs for beneficiaries, suppliers and
referral sources. The Web site will include the most up-to-date
information on the competitive bidding project, according to
CMS.

In its announcement about the Web site, CMS reiterated that all
suppliers must provide current information to the National Supplier
Clearinghouse in preparation for competitive bidding, noting that
providers will have to be “authenticated” before submitting a
bid:

“To ensure the safety and security of all suppliers interested
in participating in the competitive bidding program, all suppliers
will have to be authenticated before [they] will be able to submit
a bid. It is imperative that all information you have provided to
the National Supplier Clearinghouse is up-to-date for successful
authentication to occur,” the announcement said.

Providers who have not updated their information or who are
unsure if their information is correct should contact the NSC, CMS
advised.

The announcement also said that “CMS has not set a deadline for
DMEPOS suppliers to become accredited in order to retain/obtain a
supplier enrollment number or to competitively bid.” But the agency
also included a download of its 10 “deemed” accrediting
organizations.

In addition, the CMS announcement pointed out five objectives
for NCB:

1) To operationalize competitive bidding for DME and to use this
to determine appropriate prices for categories of DME covered by
Medicare Part B;

2) To protect beneficiary access to quality DME throughout the
program;

3) To reduce the amount Medicare pays for DMEPOS and bring the
reimbursement amount more in line with that of a competitive
market;

4) To limit the burden on beneficiaries by reducing their
out-of-pocket expenses; and

5) To mitigate proliferation of use of certain items of DMEPOS
by contracting with suppliers who engage in a business model that
is beneficial for the program and for Medicare beneficiaries.

For months, providers have been on pins and needles awaiting the
final rule for NCB and the list of the first 10 metropolitan
statistical areas in which it will be inaugurated. Industry
insiders project that it could be released on Friday, and also
expect a joint announcement will reveal the initial cities at that
time.

To read the CBIC Web site announcement in full and access a
download of CMS’ 10 approved accrediting organizations, click here.