Podiatrists Exempt from Accreditation

BALTIMORE — A DME MAC notice last week added podiatrists
to the list of providers who are exempt from CMS’ accreditation
requirement.

While they were not specifically listed as exempt in the
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, the notice
said, podiatrists are included under the definition of a physician
as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act.

CMS clarified in December exactly which professionals are exempt
from the Sept. 30, 2009, DMEPOS accreditation deadline — and
which aren’t — based on changes under MIPPA (the same law
that delayed competitive bidding last July).

An agency
accreditation fact sheet lists those “eligible professionals”
who are exempt as:

• Physicians (as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social
  Security Act)
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Qualified speech-language pathologists
• Physician assistants
• Nurse practitioners
• Clinical nurse specialists
• Certified registered nurse anesthetists
• Certified nurse-midwives
• Clinical social workers
• Clinical psychologists
• Registered dietitians, and
• Nutritional professionals.

In addition, “other persons” including orthotists, prosthetists,
opticians and audiologists are also exempt from CMS’ mandatory
deadline.

CMS said it would define by rulemaking in 2009 how the
accreditation quality standards apply to the “eligible
professionals” and “other persons” groups.

In its earlier clarification, the agency also specifically noted
that pedorthists, mastectomy fitters, orthopaedic
fitters/technicians and athletic trainers are not exempt and must
meet the accreditation deadline. Last week’s MAC notice repeated
that “pedorthists are not exempt from the accreditation requirement
at this time.”

Alex Bennewith, senior manager, government affairs, for the
American Association for Homecare, reminded HME providers that
under the MIPPA statute, they are not exempt from accreditation.
“We are making sure all of our members are aware of the requirement
and ready to comply with all of the regulations,” she said.

Meanwhile, pharmacists are seeking exemption from DMEPOS
accreditation in proposed legislation introduced in the House (H.R.
616) with a companion bill (S. 511) in the Senate (see Bill
Would Exempt Pharmacists from Accreditation, Jan. 26). But CMS’
Sandra Bastinelli, who has oversight of the DMEPOS accreditation
program, has estimated there are 25,000 pharmacy locations already
accredited. If a pharmacy bills Medicare Part B for DMEPOS, it must
meet the Sept. 30 deadline, she said during an Open Door Forum Feb.
18.