Washington The Health Care Financing Administration has taken another step-albeit a small one-toward implementing the San Antonio competitive bidding demonstration by issuing a request for bid packages.

HCFA will accept bids until June 23. Requests for bid packages already have been mailed to providers who requested them in advance; however, providers who haven't requested a bid package but are still interested in submitting bids for the demonstration can do so by faxing a request to the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Demonstration at 803/935-0078. All requests should include a contact name, address, phone and fax numbers and an e-mail address. Copies of request forms are also will be available on HCFA's Web site at www.hcfa.gov.

HCFA plans to complete bid evaluations by Oct. 13, with bidders being notified of their demonstration participation status Oct. 16. HCFA also plans to release demonstration fee schedules Nov. 24, followed Dec. 8 by the release of the directory of providers participating in the demonstration. The demonstration is scheduled to be implemented Jan. 1, 2001. -J.P.P.

Washington The General Accounting Office said its report on the Health Care Financing Administration's inherent reasonableness authority won't be released until this month. The report was originally pegged for release months ago.

The GAO has completed its findings but is waiting for HCFA and others to finish reviewing the report, government officials said. -J.P.P.