With the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program competitive bid window opening July 16, it’s time to make sure you’re on track to submit your bids before the bid window closes September 18. HomeCare asked Cara Bachenheimer, who chairs the government affairs practice at Brown & Fortunato, to share the basics before Round 2021. Here’s a checklist to help you make sure you will be ready to submit your bids on time:
1. Check Bid Bonds, State Licensure and Accreditation.
You will need to obtain one bid bond for each competitive bid area (CBA) in which you plan to bid; make sure you are appropriately licensed in all the states where you plan to bid, and make sure your accreditation covers the products/services on which you plan to bid.
2. Bid Smart!
Make sure you understand both the old and the new competitive bidding program rules. New rules include lead item pricing, clearing price rate setting and new higher bid ceilings. The old rules include bona fide bids, subcontracting, contractor obligations, special payment rules for oxygen and capped rental items and grandfathering rules.
3. Do You Understand Lead Item Pricing?
This new bidding method requires bidders to analyze the impacts of their bid for the lead item on all the non-lead items in the product category, to ensure that beneficiaries will have access to all items in the product category.
4. Use Online Resources.
Visit the industry’s education web site, which features explanations of the competitive bidding program rules, a recorded webinar, topic-focused tutorials and more.
5. Need More Help?
Sign up for the industry’s August 27 Round 2021 Bidding Education Summit in Irving TX, featuring Cara Bachenheimer of Brown & Fortunato, Kim Brummett of AAHomecare, and Mark Higley of VGM. See more details here.
6. Check in with the Bid Contractor.
Check out the CBIC/Medicare program’s web site for more details, including fact sheets on required financial documentation, covered document review process, bidder capacity and beneficiary demand details and more.
