Home Health & Hospice Week

DME:

CMS RELEASES LONG-AWAITED DMEPOS QUALITY STANDARDS

Published on Mon Jul 24, 2006

Some worry about rash to accreditation.

Don't miss the latest chapter in the unfolding mystery of DME competitive bidding.

After receiving thousands of comments from suppliers of durable medical equipment prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced new quality standards on Aug. 15.

The quality standards were issued in response to Section 302(a)(1) of the Medicare Modernization Act that "requires the Secretary to establish and implement quality standards to be applied by recognized independent accreditation organizations," the agency reported in an Aug. 15 release.

"Suppliers must comply with the quality standards in order to furnish any Durable Medical Equipment (DME), prosthetic device, prosthetic, or orthotic item or service for which Part B makes payment, and also in order to receive or retain a provider or supplier billing number used to submit claims for reimbursement for any such item or service for which payment can be made by Medicare," says CMS.

At the Aug. 15 Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forum, CMS spokesperson Linda Smith told participants that the final standards reflect "significant revisions to reduce the burden of the requirement on small suppliers."

CMS also announced that it would officially begin seeking applications from accrediting organizations that want to become recognized independent accrediting organizations of the new standards. The agency published its official notice regarding the acceptance of applications in the Federal Register on Aug.16.

Top worry: In spite of CMS' attempts to simplify the quality standards, suppliers are concerned about the transition to the new standards and the logistics of accreditation.

One Open Door Forum caller asked federal officials about the missing puzzle piece: the competitive bidding final rule. The rule, among other concerns, will spell out which 10 metropolitan areas will be subject to competitive bidding first. CMS has made clear that suppliers in those 10 areas will go to the head of the accreditation line.

Look for related final rule soon: "It is our plan to have the final rule [on competitive bidding] issued later this year," relayed a CMS official.

Note: To see the quality standards, go to the CMS Web site at www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS/04_New_Quality_Standards.asp.

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