DMEPOS Competitive Bidding - Round 2021: Reminder to Maintain Enrollment Requirements in PECOS!

Bidders in Round 2021 of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program are reminded to maintain all applicable enrollment requirements (i.e., licensure, accreditation, and supplier enrollment number) throughout the bid evaluation and contracting periods. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will verify with the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) that each location, (identified by a Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN)) listed on Form A of the DMEPOS Bidding System, DBidS, is in compliance with all enrollment requirements to furnish all items in a product category for the particular competitive bidding area (CBA).

Therefore, a bidder’s enrollment records in PECOS must remain current to be eligible for a competitive bidding contract.

State Licensing
Per 42 CFR § 414.414(b)(3), CMS cannot award a contract to any bidder for a CBA and product category combination (competition) unless the bidder meets all applicable state licensing requirements. Therefore, bidders must ensure all applicable licenses do not expire and renewed licenses are reflected in PECOS. If awarded a contract, the contract suppliers must maintain applicable state licenses in PECOS to furnish all items in its contract for the duration of the contract period.

CMS does not have the authority to waive state licensing requirements. Those requirements would continue to apply unless waived by the individual state. A DMEPOS State License Directory for each state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories may be found on the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) website. This directory provides general licensing requirements for DMEPOS products/services and contact information for each state’s licensing board or agency. Licensing requirements change periodically, and it remains the responsibility of suppliers to identify, obtain, and have all current, non-expired licenses reflected in PECOS. For more information, please see the Licensure for Bidders fact sheet and the DMEPOS State License Directory.

Accreditation
Each supplier location on a bid must maintain accreditation from a CMS approved accrediting organization to furnish all items in each applicable product category. Accrediting organizations report any accreditation updates to the NSC, so it is important accreditation for each supplier location is current in PECOS. CMS cannot offer contracts to bidders whose location(s) is not accredited by a CMS approved accrediting organization.

Due to the novel COVID-19 pandemic, CMS is extending any expiring supplier location accreditation for a 90-day time period. CMS is monitoring all billing activity and will continue to reassess this requirement. Further information on the DMEPOS accreditation requirements along with a list of the accrediting organizations and those professionals and other persons exempted from accreditation are available on the CMS website. As a reminder, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, section 3109, states that certain pharmacies are exempt from the accreditation requirement; however, all pharmacies must be accredited to be eligible for a competitive bidding contract.

Supplier Enrollment Number
Suppliers must maintain an active PTAN in PECOS for each location in which they submitted a bid(s) and ensure their CMS-855S enrollment application is up to date with the NSC and in PECOS.

Email Address
It is also important for suppliers to maintain a correct and active email address in the CMS Enterprise Portal to receive critical information throughout the bid evaluation and contracting periods. To modify an email address or update user roles, go to the CMS Enterprise Portal link under “Portals” on the navigation bar at the top of the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) website. For more information on actions each user role can perform, see the DBidS and Connexion User Role Table.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please call the CBIC customer service center at 877-577-5331 between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. prevailing Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.