Higley said only half of the CAMPS seminar attendees who said they intended to bid had registered for the user ID and password, and only one had received it.

Bachenheimer added that, because the ID and password are mailed, the process takes a week or two--a significant amount of time lost out of the bid window.

While the RFB did not hold any surprises for providers, there are some questions about the process.

Soon after the final rule was issued, AAHomecare sought clarification from CMS on a variety of topics but has not received answers, Gorski said. "However, we have been informed that questions about competitive bidding and key issues will be posted on the CBIC Web site in the form of fact sheets and other educational material.

"Clearly there are some basic issues that we believe CMS must address in order for suppliers to be able to properly bid," Gorski continued. "For example, how will CMS address an issue in a case where a CBA crosses state lines, and one state levies state sales tax [on HME] and the other does not?"

That is the case in the Charlotte, N.C., CBA, which reaches into South Carolina, Gorski said. South Carolina levies a 6 percent sales tax on HME; North Carolina does not. The situation could result in some providers in the same CBA having an advantage over others, he said.

Gorski also noted that CMS has not announced educational efforts for providers. "We still believe that more time is necessary for educational opportunities. However," he said, "we are not extremely hopeful that a grace period or a delay will be forthcoming."

Link to the CBIC Web site by clicking here.

For questions, call the CBIC competitive bidding help line at (877) 577-5331.