CMS Extends Deadlines for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced late last week it is extending the registration and bid submission deadlines for the first round of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. All bids are now due by July 20 and the registration deadline is July 7.
The announcement came after the American Association for Homecare, which represents home medical equipment manufacturers, cited “severe technical problems” with the process and said it was working with lawmakers to request extensions in the program timetable.
The CMS will use bids submitted by DMEPOS suppliers to establish single payment amounts for DMEPOS provided under Medicare Part B in certain “competitive bidding areas” (Device Daily Bulletin, April 10). The previous deadline for bids was July 13.
The American Association for Homecare also separately asked that Congress review Medicare’s current processes for approving new durable medical equipment providers and auditing them after they receive supplier numbers.
