OWINGS MILLS, Md. (October 11, 2019)—The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) will offer multiple opportunities for DME professionals to enhance their careers at this year’s Medtrade Fall from Oct. 21—23, 2019, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

On Monday, Oct.21 from 1-2 p.m., BOC’s Credentialing Director Matthew Gruskin, MBA, BOCO, BOCPD will present “Getting Ahead of the Value-Based Care Curve.” Gruskin will discuss the increased focus on value-based care in the United States and explain how DMEPOS businesses can prepare for and align with this new environment. This session will provide a perspective that evaluates the total cost of value-based care as well as other variables that impact quality and value for all stakeholders.

For Medtrade attendees looking to strengthen their resume and demonstrate their expertise to employers and patients, BOC will offer the opportunity to prepare to earn the BOC Certified Durable Medical Equipment (CDME) Specialist certification.

The CDME credential demonstrates that the certificant is qualified to handle basic repairs, troubleshooting and home inspections for DME products such as oxygen, transfer systems, enteral supplies and wound care. Medicare’s human resources management standards require technical personnel to be knowledgeable, competent and trained to deliver products—a CDME meets these standards and provides consumers with a sense of confidence.

Earning this certification also provides:

  • Differentiation in the marketplace and a competitive advantage
  • Professional credibility
  • Demonstrated commitment to your profession
  • Assurance of your DME expertise to patients, referral sources and payers
  • Proof that you understand management of risk in providing DME
  • An understanding of limiting fraud, waste and abuse

Jeff Hedges, CDME, president and CEO of R.J. Hedges & Associates, will lead a comprehensive CDME preparation course. Attend the “An Introduction to the CDME” workshop on Monday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which will prepare participants to take the exam on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Although taking the exam at Medtrade is optional, candidates have a 92% pass rate when completing the exam directly after attending the workshop.

To enroll in the workshop, register for Medtrade and add the workshop in the “Your Events” section of the registration process. To be eligible to take the BOC CDME exam, a candidate must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and a verifiable minimum of 500 hours (approximately 13 weeks of full-time work) of documented work experience at a DME facility. To register for the exam at Medtrade, visit MyBOC (my.bocusa.org) and create an account. Choose event code “OCTB19CDME”—Medtrade 10/22/19 (paper exam) DME Specialist Certification. The application fee is $25 (a 50% discount) and the exam fee is $100.

To learn more, call BOC toll-free at (877) 776-2200, email cert@bocusa.org or visit bocusa.org.