CMS: No Delay on Competitive Bidding IFR

BALTIMORE–In a statement issued Friday afternoon, CMS said the
interim final rule on competitive bidding would become effective as
scheduled April 18. The rule requires a rebid of Round One in
2009.
 
“In the upcoming weeks, CMS will be issuing further guidance on the
timeline for and bidding requirements related to the Round 1
rebid,” the agency said. “In finalizing these guidelines, CMS will
continue to seek input from all affected stakeholders to ensure
program implementation consistent with the legislative
requirements.”
 
The full text of the CMS statement follows:
 
“The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
(MIPPA), enacted on July 15, 2008, made limited changes to the
competitive bidding program for Durable Medical Equipment,
Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS), including a
requirement that the Secretary conduct a second competition to
select suppliers for Round 1 in 2009. The Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule with
comment period (IFC) on January 16, 2009. The rule incorporates
into existing regulations specific statutory requirements contained
in MIPPA related to the competitive bidding program.
 
“The Administration delayed the effective date for the IFC to allow
CMS officials the opportunity for further review of the issues of
law and policy raised by the rule. Based upon its review and on the
need to ensure that CMS is able to meet the statutory deadlines
contained in MIPPA, the Administration has concluded that the
effective date should not be further delayed. The rule will become
effective tomorrow, April 18, 2009. However, there will be no
immediate effect on the Medicare DMEPOS benefit and Medicare
beneficiaries may continue to use their current DMEPOS suppliers at
this time.
 
“During the comment period, CMS received many suggestions by a
range of stakeholders to make further improvements to the
competitive bidding program, such as ensuring that CMS’s
processes for collecting and evaluating bids are fair and
transparent. In the upcoming weeks, CMS will be issuing further
guidance on the timeline for and bidding requirements related to
the Round 1 re-bid. In finalizing these guidelines, CMS will
continue to seek input from all affected stakeholders to ensure
program implementation consistent with the legislative
requirements.”