BALTIMORE--CMS is likely to get an earful at an Oct. 11 meeting of the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee--its first since Spring 2006--which will focus on the first round of national competitive bidding.

An agenda posted on CMS' meeting registration site shows a morning session devoted to feedback from the 21-member committee, which was formed to advise the agency on the Medicare bidding program. An afternoon session will include updates on accreditation and the timeline for round two, as well as recommendations on education for beneficiaries, suppliers and referral agents.

Along with many in the HME industry, some of the committee's members have been highly critical of CMS' implementation of the DMEPOS bidding project, pointing to serious issues with product categories, lack of program details and a ramp-up so fast it allowed little time for providers to prepare. Providers in the first 10 MSAs have complained of missing information, confusing bid instructions, shaky guidance from the agency's Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor and continuing changes to the process.

When technical problems with its online bidding system crippled providers who were trying to submit bids, CMS extended the first-round bidding window from July 27 to Sept. 25. (See HomeCare Monday, July 30. But as late as Sept. 19, the agency was offering new guidance in the "frequently asked questions" section on the CBIC site, noted Walt Gorski of the American Association for Homecare, which is represented on the PAOC by Washington attorney Asela Cuervo.

And according to committee member Cara Bachenheimer of Invacare Corp., the industry is still clueless about exactly how CMS will evaluate bids. "It's a black hole," Bachenheimer commented recently.

CMS has set aside the last hour at the all-day meeting to hear comments from the public. "CMS hopes that the public will assist us in moving forward with a smoother transition on the next round of competitive bidding," reads a meeting notice.

The PAOC meeting will be held on Thursday, Oct. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pikesville Hilton, 1726 Reisterstown Rd., Baltimore, Md. 21208.

Registration to attend the meeting is required by 5 p.m. Oct. 5 at www.blsmeetings.net.