BALTIMORE--CMS released its long-awaited draft of proposed quality standards for HME suppliers on Friday, just in time for discussion at a special CMS Open Door Forum scheduled for this afternoon.

The 104-page document, developed by CMS contractor Abt Associates, Cambridge, Mass., includes two sections, one that details business standards that apply to all suppliers, and another that focuses on standards for suppliers specializing in specific products and categories.

Mandated under the Medicare Modernization Act, the quality standards will at some point be required of all DMEPOS suppliers who want to do business with Medicare Part B--including to receive and maintain a supplier billing number--not just those who want to participate in CMS' competitive bidding program, set to begin in 2007. Some industry stakeholders have argued that the standards need to be finalized and implemented before bidding begins; otherwise, they say, companies with the lowest level of service and lowest cost component could win.

The proposed business standards outline requirements in eight areas: administration, financial management, human resource management, beneficiary services, performance management, equipment and safety, beneficiary rights and ethics and information management.

The product-specific section gives details of supplier service standards and requirements for inspection, delivery/set-up, beneficiary education/training and follow-up in 13 categories: oxygen and oxygen equipment; home invasive mechanical ventilation therapy; non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure and bi-level positive airway pressure; intermittent positive pressure breathing; power wheelchairs; manual wheelchairs; diabetic equipment and supplies; customized orthotics and prosthetics; enteral nutrition; electric and manual hospital beds; support surfaces; walkers, canes and crutches; commodes; and bedpans and urinals.

The product-specific service section "is a continuing work in progress" and is expected to be completed by January 2006, according to the draft, which also states that, because of the "complexity of the clinical monitoring required for some areas of DMEPOS," suppliers will be accredited "only when they meet business quality standards as well as those quality standards that apply to the specific products for which the supplier has applied through Medicare to market and distribute."

Next, CMS must choose accrediting bodies to enforce the standards. The agency is expected to roll out a regulation explaining how accreditation organizations can apply for "deemed status" and has said it will name approved accrediting bodies by the end of the year.

CMS is hosting a Special Open Door Forum to give an overview of the standards today from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT. Officials from Abt Associates will be on hand with CMS officials and policy specialists to take questions and comments. To participate by phone, call (800) 837-1935 and reference Conference ID number 8914408.

A draft of the standards is posted on CMS' Web sites at www.cms.hhs.gov/suppliers/dmepos/compbid/default.asp and at www.cms.hhs.gov/suppliers/dmepos/default.asp.

CMS will accept comments on the standards through Nov. 28. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to DMEPOS_Quality_Standards_Public_Comments@cms.hhs.gov.