CMS makes three competitive bidding announcements

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made three announcements last week for Round 2 and national mail-order competitions of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.

First, bid limits in the Round 2 Bid Preparation Worksheets have been revised for 14 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for power wheelchairs (K0813 through K0829). The previous bid limits listed in the worksheet were erroneously based on 150 percent of the actual bid limits.

Second, CMS made three clarifying updates to the list of glucose monitors on the 50 Percent Compliance Form, a required bid document for the national mail-order competition:
1. ASCENSIA AUTO DISC has been consolidated with ASCENSIA BREEZE 2.  (ASCENSIA AUTO DISC is no longer manufactured but uses the same test strips as the ASCENSIA BREEZE 2.)
2. FREESTYLE FLASH has been consolidated with FREESTYLE and FREESTYLE FREEDOM.  (FREESTYLE FLASH is no longer manufactured but uses the same test strips as FREESTYLE and FREESTYLE FREEDOM.)
3. Protégé has been consolidated with SMARTEST.  (Protégé is no longer manufactured but uses the same test strips as SMARTEST.)
Third, CMS reminded bidders that four adjustable seat cushion codes (E2622 through E2625) have been removed from the Round 2 standard wheelchairs product category.

The updates are available on the CBIC website.