Metroplex physicians must use Medicare-contracted suppliers for equipment
starting July 1
updated 06.09.08
Physicians in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area who prescribe Medicare-covered durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies to their patients must go through certain contracted suppliers starting July 1, 2008. Physicians and patients will be responsible for determining which suppliers are Medicare-contract suppliers to make sure their medical products and services will be covered by Medicare.
According to a CMS bulletin, the 10 product categories affected in Texas are:
- Oxygen supplies and equipment;
- Standard power wheelchairs, scooters and related accessories;
- Complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs and related accessories;
- Mail-order diabetic supplies;
- Enteral nutrients, equipment and supplies;
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices and Respiratory Assist Devices (RADs) and related supplies;
- Hospital beds and related accessories;
- Negative-pressure wound-therapy pumps and related supplies and accessories; and
- Walkers and related accessories.
To find out if a supplier is included in the program, use the search tool on www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Physicians in other communities outside of the Metroplex should also take heed: the program will expand to 70 additional areas in 2009 with further expansions in the future.
Related links:
Read the CMS-published PDF, “What You Should Know if You Need Medicare-covered Equipment or Supplies.”
Main Web site
www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid
Beneficiary Fact Sheet
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11307.pdf (English)
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11307_S.pdf (Spanish)
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11307_C.pdf (Chinese)
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11307_C.pdf (Vietnamese)
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11307_K.pdf (Korean)
Supplier Locator Tool
http://www.medicare.gov/Supplier/Static/About/DMEPOS.asp?dest=NAV|Home|AboutSupplierDirectory|DMEPOS#TabTop
Referral Agent Tip Sheet
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/Downloads/DMEPOS_Referral_Agent_Tip_Sheet.pdf
Grandfathered Supplier Tip Sheet
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/Downloads/DMEPOS_Grandfathered_Suppliers_Tip_Sheet.pdf
Medicare Learning Network Articles
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0805.pdf — Overview of New Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS)
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0806.pdf — Grandfathering, Repair and Replacement, Mail Order Diabetic Supplies, and Advanced Beneficiary Notices (ABNs)
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0807.pdf — Important Exceptions and Special Circumstances that Occur under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program
Medicare DMEPOS Presentation
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/Downloads/policy_teleconference_final.pdf
Questions and Answers
https://questions.cms.gov
https://questions.cms.hhs.gov/cgi-bin/cmshhs.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=jLJzId3j&p_lva=&p_li=&p_accessibility=0&p_page=1&p_cv=&p_pv=3.611&p_prods=8%2C57%2C611&p_cats=&p_hidden_prods=&prod_lvl1=8&prod_lvl2=57&prod_lvl3=611&p_se