BALTIMORE--Even as the industry fights down to the wire to delay competitive bidding, CMS wants to know: Are you ready?
In a list-serv message sent Wednesday, CMS said, “The Medicare DMEPOS competitive bidding program begins July 1--just two weeks away--Are you prepared?”
According to the message, “If your practice location is in one of the 10 CBAs, you probably will be affected. If you are not located in a CBA, but treat Medicare patients who permanently reside in a CBA, you also need to understand the program. Be ready for July 1st, 2008.”
CMS recommended checking its competitive bidding Web site at www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOScompetitivebid. “All the information that you need to know as a DMEPOS supplier or an enrolled Medicare provider who refers beneficiaries for DMEPOS is available on the CMS DMEPOS competitive bidding dedicated Web site,” the message said.
Last week, the agency posted two CBA zip code files on the CBIC Web site at www.dmecompetitivebid.com, one containing mail order zip codes and another containing non-mail order zip codes per CBA. The files will be updated on a quarterly basis "to reflect changes in zip codes included in the various CBAs," CMS said. "Although the boundaries of a CBA will not change during a competitive bidding contract period, zip codes in general do change from time to time (e.g., when one zip code/area is subdivided into two or more new zip codes/areas, etc.)."
The agency also released information on its competitive bidding ombudsman program. With eight ombudsmen located witihin the initial CBAs, “the ombudsmen's role is to investigate and address complaints by providers, suppliers and beneficiaries specifically related to the competitive bidding program,” CMS said.
You may contact an ombudsman:
--For general information about the DMEPOS competitive bidding
program;
--To obtain assistance in locating a contract supplier;
--For educational programs and activities;
--To report concerns about the program, a supplier or a referral
agent;
--About the quality of services or items, and/or suspected fraud or
abuse; and
--For assistance with questions, issues and complaints specifically
pertaining to the competitive bidding program and policies.
A list of the ombudsmen with contact information is available on the CBIC Web site at www.dmecompetitivebid.com.