Latest News and Announcements

DMEPOS Contract Suppliers Announced

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the contract suppliers for Round 2 and the national mail-order program of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.

A list of contract supplier names is available at www.dmecompetitivebid.com . Contract supplier locations for each product category in each competitive bidding area can be found in the Supplier Directory at www.medicare.gov/supplier.

For additional information:

• Press Release
• Fact Sheet 

New Name for CBIC Ombudsmen

CMS is changing the name of the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) ombudsmen to CBIC liaisons. This change will help distinguish the CBIC liaisons from the CMS Competitive Acquisition Ombudsman.  The CBIC liaisons are now available to assist suppliers, referral agents, and other key stakeholders with questions and concerns about the program, provide assistance locating contract suppliers, and participate in educational events. There is a dedicated CBIC liaison assigned in each of several regional geographic territories consisting of Round 1, Round 2, and National Mail-Order competitive bidding areas.  A list of CBIC liaisons and their contact information is available at www.dmecompetitivebid.com  under ‘Contact Us.’

CMS Announces DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Payment Amounts for the Round 2 and National Mail-Order Competitions

On January 30, 2013, CMS announced the single payment amounts for the Round 2 and national mail-order competitions of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.

For additional information:

• Press Release
• Fact Sheet 

Information for people who refer Medicare beneficiaries for durable medical equipment, orthotics and supplies. The DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program will be changing how some Medicare patients get covered supplies.  Be sure to give your Medicare patients the correct information.

Referral agents play a critical role in providing information and services to Medicare beneficiaries. To ensure you give Medicare patients the most current DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program information, CMS strongly encourages you to sign up for this new electronic mailing list. In addition, please share the information you receive from the mailing list and the link to the “mailing list for referral agents” subscriber web page with others who refer Medicare beneficiaries for DMEPOS. Thank you for signing up!

Round 1 Rebid Mail-Order Diabetic Supply Contracts Ending on December 31, 2012

On January 1, 2011, CMS implemented the Round 1 Rebid of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program for nine product categories, including mail-order diabetic supplies. Medicare’s contracts with suppliers of mail-order diabetic supplies will end on December 31, 2012.

Beneficiaries with Original Medicare who live in Round 1 Rebid areas do not have to take any action at this time. They can choose to continue to receive their diabetic testing supplies from their current supplier or they can get their testing supplies from any other Medicare enrolled supplier that provides these items until a new national mail-order program for diabetic testing supplies begins. The national mail-order program contracts and prices are targeted to become effective on July 1, 2013. Medicare will announce the national mail-order contract suppliers and provide more information about this program before it starts.  

CMS is notifying beneficiaries who use diabetic testing supplies and live in Round 1 Rebid areas of this change. The beneficiary letter can be viewed on the DMEPOS Toolkit web page.