The registration period for the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program Round 1 2017 competition is opening next week on August 25, 2015.
If you are a supplier interested in bidding, prepare now – don’t wait!
- REVIEW AND UPDATE ENROLLMENT RECORDS: Suppliers must maintain accurate information on their CMS-855S enrollment application with the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) and in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS).
It is important to note that if your record is not current at the time of registration, you may
experience delays and/or be unable to register and bid. We will also validate your bid data against
your enrollment record in PECOS during bid evaluation. If it is not current or accurate, your bid
may be disqualified.
- Contact information (name, Social Security number, and date of birth) for authorized official(s) and correspondence address.
- Products and services furnished by the enrolled location(s).
- Each state in which the enrolled location(s) provides items and services.
- Complete listing of authorized officials. If you have only one authorized official listed on your enrollment record, consider adding one or more eligible authorized officials to help with registration and bidding.
- GET LICENSED: If you are submitting a bid for a product category in a competitive bidding area (CBA), you must meet all DMEPOS state licensing requirements and other applicable state licensing requirements, if any, for that product category. As part of the bid evaluation process, we will verify with PECOS that each location listed on Form A of the online DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS) for a particular CBA/product category combination has all required licenses to furnish items in the product category for the CBA by the close of the bid window. Your bid(s) for the CBA/product category combination(s) will be disqualified if you do not meet all the applicable state licensing requirements for the bid(s). Contract suppliers must maintain compliance with all state licensing requirements throughout the duration of the contract period.
Steps to take NOW:
- Have a copy of the required state license(s) on file with the NSC and in PECOS for the physical location(s) that will be on your bid to provide the items in the product category(s).
- Make sure your CMS-855S enrollment application is up-to-date with the NSC and in PECOS and indicates the products you furnish in the states where you provide the items.
For reference purposes, please review the NSC DMEPOS State License Directory on its website at
www.palmettogba.com/NSC. The directory provides general licensing requirements and contact
information for each state’s licensing board or agency. The directory is only a guide. Licensing
requirements change periodically, and it remains the responsibility of the bidding supplier to
identify and obtain all required licenses. For more information about licensing requirements, please
consult the appropriate license issuing agency listed on the guides or call the NSC at 866-238-9652.
- GET ACCREDITED: All Medicare DMEPOS suppliers must be in compliance with the program’s supplier Quality Standards, which includes being accredited by a CMS-approved accrediting organization. To submit a bid, each supplier location must be accredited for the items in a product category. It is important that your location(s) be appropriately accredited early so that your information will be in PECOS. CMS cannot contract with suppliers whose location(s) is not accredited by a CMS-approved accrediting organization.
Steps to take NOW:
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If you are planning to bid on a product category for which your location(s) is not currently accredited, then you must take action NOW by contacting one of the CMS-approved accrediting organizations to begin the process.
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If you are planning to bid on a product category for which your location(s) is currently accredited, then you should verify the accreditation information listed for that location in PECOS.
Note: No accreditation exemptions are applicable for participation in the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding
Program. Locations must be accredited to furnish competitively bid items regardless of any exemptions
extended for Medicare enrollment purposes.
Further information on the DMEPOS accreditation requirements along with a list of the
accrediting organizations and their contact information are on the CMS website. You may also visit the
NSC website or call the NSC at 866-238-9652 for additional information.
For a listing of the product categories, CBAs, timeline, and other bidding information, please visit the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) website. We also encourage you to register on the website to receive e-mail updates about the program.
As a reminder, the CBIC is the official information source for bidders and bidder education. CMS cautions bidding suppliers about potential inaccurate information concerning the Competitive Bidding Program posted on non-government websites. Suppliers that rely on this information in the preparation or submission of their bids could be at risk of submitting a non-compliant bid.
The CBIC participates in numerous educational events to assist stakeholders in understanding the rules that govern the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program. Visit the CBIC website for a listing and schedule of educational events under the Educational Information section of the Round 1 2017 page.
In addition to viewing the information on the CBIC website, suppliers are encouraged to call the CBIC customer service center toll-free at 877-577-5331 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. prevailing Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Hours are extended to 9 p.m. prevailing Eastern Time during the last two weeks of the registration and bidding windows.