Wendell Says It All

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A short Q&A in a September newsletter from the National Supplier Clearinghouse says it all: HME providers who don't get their surety bonds in by the Oct. 2 deadline will have their Medicare billing privileges revoked.

In the newsletter's "Ask Wendell" feature, here's how Wendell responded to the following questions:

Q: What happens if I do not submit a surety bond by Oct. 2, 2009, to the NSC?

A: Per CMS Instruction, suppliers who do not meet the surety bond requirement are subject to the revocation of their Medicare billing privileges and an enrollment bar from the Medicare program for at least one year.

Q: What is the difference between my billing privileges being deactivated and revoked?

A: Suppliers whose billing privileges are deactivated are usually as a result of non-response to a development request or if a supplier has a DNF (Do Not Forward) on file from the billing jurisdiction. Suppliers with deactivated PTANS may immediately reapply to the NSC for billing privileges. Revocations are the result of non-compliance with one or more of the current supplier standards. Suppliers that are revoked are subject to an enrollment bar from the Medicare program.

Other reminders from the newsletter:

• "As Instructed by CMS, DMEPOS suppliers that are required to submit a surety bond or become accredited must be in compliance with supplier standards 22-26 in order to obtain Medicare billing privileges or avoid the revocation of existing billing privileges."

• "Surety bonds must be submitted to the NSC along with section 1, 12 & 15 no later than Oct. 2, 2009."

• "Accreditation information will be shared with the NSC by the accrediting organization. Check with the accreditation organization for verification and accuracy of products and services."

• "Suppliers who are not in compliance with the supplier standards may voluntarily terminate their billing privileges to avoid revocation. Once fully compliant, suppliers may reapply for Medicare billing privileges by completing the CMS-855S. Normal processing guidelines will apply, including a site visit if required."

• "Suppliers must be fully accredited no later than Oct. 1, 2009 to be in compliance with the CMS requirement."

• "Being enrolled as a non-participating supplier does not provide an exemption for the accreditation and/or the surety bond requirement."