With CMS having announced Round 2021 of competitive bidding, the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) is urging providers to start making the preparations for bidding.
CBIC has noted on its online timeline that the Round 2021 competitive bid window is expected to open in June 2019, and a new statement from CBIC is reminding providers to start getting prepared to bid, urging first and foremost that they get their locations licensed and accredited.
Licensure
Where licensure is concerned, CBIC’s statement stresses that only bidders that meet all applicable state licensing requirements by the close of the bid window will be awarded to bidders. Providers must have current, non-expired state licenses in the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) for each of their locations, which must be identified by a Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN) included on your bid by the close of the bid window.
“Each supplier location on your bid must be licensed for all lead and non-lead items in the product category for the particular CBA in which it currently furnishes or plans to furnish if awarded a DMEPOS competitive bidding contract,” the statement notes.
CBIC urged providers to review the DMEPOS State License Directory to see general licensing requirements for DMEPOS products and services and contact information for each state’s licensing board or agency.
That said, CBIC stressed that the directory is only a guide and that state licensing requirements can change. So, providers must consult the appropriate state licensing board or agency and work to identify, obtain, and have all current, non-expired required state licenses reflected in PECOS by the close of the bid window.
Accreditation
CBIC also underscored that providers must get accreditation for each location on their bid from CMS-approved accrediting organization for the lead and non-lead items in a product category by the close of the bid window.
“Any supplier that is interested in bidding for a product category but does not have its location(s) currently accredited must take action NOW to get accredited for that product category,” CBIC warned. “Accrediting organizations report any accreditation updates to the NSC, so it is important that your locations are accredited early so your information will be up to date in PECOS. CMS cannot offer contracts to bidders that are not accredited by a CMS approved accrediting organization.”
Providers can get more information on the accreditation requirements along with a list of the accrediting organizations from the CMS DMEPOS Enrollment web pages.
CBIC added that, while 3109 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act states that certain pharmacies are exempt from the DMEPOS accreditation requirement, all pharmacies must be accredited to be eligible for a competitive bidding contract.
Also, if a provider has a location with a state license or accreditation for a product category in PECOS that is current, but will expire prior to the close of the bid window, it must get the location re-licensed or re-accredited. The new “begin date” and “expiration date” fields must be updated in PECOS by the close of the bid window.
CBIC summarized steps they should take now as part of their bid preparation:
- Ensure their CMS-855S enrollment application is up to date with the NSC, and that PECOS reflects the states and items that the provider currently furnishes or plans to furnish if awarded a contract.
- Review the DMEPOS State License Directory to determine the applicable state licenses that are required to furnish all items in the product category in which the provider will submit a bid. Then, verify that the provider has the applicable and current, non-expired licensing information reflected in PECOS for each location(s) that will be included on its bid to furnish all items in the product category.
- Make sure their locations are accredited by a CMS-approved accrediting organization to furnish all items in the product category in which they will submit a bid. Next, confirm that they have current, non-expired accreditation information reflected in PECOS for each location that will be included on their bid to furnish all items in the product category(s).
Providers with any questions that need help can call CBIC’s customer service center at (877) 577-5331 between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. prevailing Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.