Get Ready for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding - GET LICENSED!
On April 21, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to recompete the supplier contracts awarded in Round 1 Recompete of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.
If you are a supplier intending to bid, prepare now – don’t wait!
GET LICENSED!
The Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Supplier Standards require every supplier location to be licensed, as applicable, by the state in which it provides products and services. Contracts are only awarded to suppliers that meet all applicable state licensing requirements by the close of the bid window.
If you are submitting a bid for a product category in a competitive bidding area (CBA), you must meet all DMEPOS state licensing requirements and other applicable state licensing requirements, if any, for that product category. As part of the bid evaluation process, we will verify with the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) that each location listed on Form A of the online Durable Medical Equipment Bidding System (DBidS) for a particular CBA/product category combination has all required licenses to furnish items in the product category for the CBA by the close of the bid window. Your bid(s) for the CBA/product category combination(s) will be disqualified if you do not meet all the applicable state licensing requirements for the bid(s). Contract suppliers must maintain compliance with all state licensing requirements throughout the duration of the contract period.
Steps to take NOW:
- Have a copy of the required state license(s) on file with the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) and in the PECOS for the location(s) that will be on your bid to provide the items in the product category(s).
- Make sure your CMS-855S enrollment application is up-to-date with the NSC and in PECOS and indicates the products you furnish in the states where you provide the items.
For reference purposes, please review the NSC DMEPOS State License Directory on its website at www.palmettogba.com/NSC. The directory provides general state licensing requirements and contact information for each state’s licensing board or agency. The directory is only a guide. Licensing requirements change periodically, and it remains the responsibility of the bidding supplier to identify and obtain all required licenses. For more information about licensure requirements, please consult the appropriate license issuing agency listed on the guides or call the NSC at 866-238-9652.
For a listing of the product categories, CBAs, timeline, and other valuable bidding information, please visit the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) website at www.dmecompetitivebid.com. We also encourage you to register on the website to receive e-mail updates about the program.
As a reminder, the CBIC is the official information source for bidders and bidder education. CMS cautions bidding suppliers about potential inaccurate information concerning the Competitive Bidding Program posted on non-government websites. Suppliers that rely on this information in the preparation or submission of their bids could be at risk of submitting a non-compliant bid.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the CBIC customer service center at 877-577-5331 between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. prevailing Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.