Home Health & Hospice Week

Stringent new rule catches many suppliers by surprise.

Be sure you're dotting your i's and crossing your t's if you're a Medicare-certified DMEPOS supplier--or you could be out of the program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued another strong caution that suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies who fail to provide necessary updates to information on CMS' new enrollment form (form 855S) could be barred from the coming DME competitive bidding process.

"Supplier standard number two requires all suppliers to notify the [National Supplier Clearinghouse] of any change to the information provided on the CMS 855S application form within 30 days of the change," CMS says in a Jan. 10 message to providers posted to its bidding Web site.

Timeframe: Medicare's DME competitive bidding program will be phased in beginning this year, according to CMS. But the agency has yet to issue a final rule spelling out the particulars of the program.

"Suppliers must understand the importance of keeping their supplier information current," says a reminder from Palmetto GBA.

Note: For information and instructions on how to submit a change of information, go to the NSC Web site at www.palmettogba.com. Click on "supplier enrol-lment/change of information guide."

For updates on competitive bidding, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS.