PAOC to Focus on Round One of NCB

BALTIMORE–CMS is likely to get an earful at an Oct. 11 meeting
of the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee–its first since
Spring 2006–which will focus on the first round of national
competitive bidding.

An agenda posted on CMS’ meeting registration site shows a
morning session devoted to feedback from the 21-member committee,
which was formed to advise the agency on the Medicare bidding
program. An afternoon session will include updates on accreditation
and the timeline for round two, as well as recommendations on
education for beneficiaries, suppliers and referral agents.

Along with many in the HME industry, some of the committee’s
members have been highly critical of CMS’ implementation of the
DMEPOS bidding project, pointing to serious issues with product
categories, lack of program details and a ramp-up so fast it
allowed little time for providers to prepare. Providers in the
first 10 MSAs have complained of missing information, confusing bid
instructions, shaky guidance from the agency’s Competitive Bidding
Implementation Contractor and continuing changes to the
process.

When technical problems with its online bidding system crippled
providers who were trying to submit bids, CMS extended the
first-round bidding window from July 27 to Sept. 25. (See HomeCare Monday, July 30. But as late
as Sept. 19, the agency was offering new guidance in the
“frequently asked questions” section on the CBIC site, noted Walt
Gorski of the American Association for Homecare, which is
represented on the PAOC by Washington attorney Asela Cuervo.

And according to committee member Cara Bachenheimer of Invacare
Corp., the industry is still clueless about exactly how CMS will
evaluate bids. “It’s a black hole,” Bachenheimer commented
recently.

CMS has set aside the last hour at the all-day meeting to hear
comments from the public. “CMS hopes that the public will assist us
in moving forward with a smoother transition on the next round of
competitive bidding,” reads a meeting notice.

The PAOC meeting will be held on Thursday, Oct. 11, from 8:30
a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pikesville Hilton, 1726 Reisterstown Rd.,
Baltimore, Md. 21208.

Registration to attend the meeting is required by 5 p.m. Oct. 5
at www.blsmeetings.net.