On July 15, 2014, CMS announced plans to recompete the supplier contracts awarded in the Round 2 and national mail-order competitions of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.
If you are a supplier interested in bidding, prepare now – don’t wait. 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 the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS). CMS cannot contract with suppliers whose location(s) is not accredited by a CMS-approved accrediting organization.
Steps to take now:
- 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.
- 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.
Further information on the DMEPOS accreditation requirements, along with a list of the accrediting organizations (PDF) and their contact information is available on the CMS DMEPOS Accreditation website. You may also visit the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) website or call the NSC at 866-238-9652 for additional information.
For a listing of the product categories, competitive bidding areas, timeline, and other bidding information, please visit theCompetitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) website. We also encourage you to register on the website to receive email 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 “Educational Information” tab on the CBIC Round 2 and National Mail-Order Recompete website for a listing and schedule of educational events.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the CBIC customer service center at 877-577-5331 between 9am and 5:30pm ET, Monday through Friday.