CMS Launches Bidding Info Site

Baltimore

In March, CMS introduced its DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor Web site.

To be administered by Palmetto GBA, the designated CBIC, the Web site is available at www.dmecompetitivebid.com.

Once construction of the site's pages is complete, providers will be able to access information on the bid application process, the cities in which competitive bidding is active, educational tools and accreditation requirements, among a host of other topics.

As the CBIC, Palmetto will perform a variety of functions, including preparing the request for bids, evaluating the bids, helping to monitor the program's effectiveness and quality and sponsoring education programs for beneficiaries, suppliers and referral sources. The Web site will include the most up-to-date information on the Medicare competitive bidding project, according to CMS.

In its announcement about the Web site, CMS emphasized that all suppliers must provide current information to the National Supplier Clearinghouse in preparation for competitive bidding, and noted that providers will have to be “authenticated” before submitting a bid:

“To ensure the safety and security of all suppliers interested in participating in the competitive bidding program, all suppliers will have to be authenticated before [they] will be able to submit a bid. It is imperative that all information you have provided to the National Supplier Clearinghouse is up-to-date for successful authentication to occur,” the announcement said.

Providers who have not updated their information or who are unsure if their information is correct should contact the NSC, CMS advised.

The announcement also said that “CMS has not set a deadline for DMEPOS suppliers to become accredited in order to retain/obtain a supplier enrollment number or to competitively bid.” But the agency also included a download of its 10 “deemed” accrediting organizations, and the following information was posted on the site:

“Before a supplier can submit bids under the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program, they must satisfy quality standards and be accredited (or be in the process of becoming accredited) by a CMS approved accreditation organization.”

(For more on accreditation and a list of CMS' 10 approved accreditors, see page 44.)

In addition, the CMS announcement pointed out five objectives for NCB: