CMS issued a proposed rule on Jan. 25 to enhance the enrollment standards for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers. By creating five new standards and strengthening seven of the 21 existing standards that suppliers must meet, the proposed rule is intended to increase protections for Medicare and its beneficiaries from potentially dishonest or low-quality suppliers. Among the proposed requirements, suppliers in the DMEPOS competitive bidding areas must be accredited before CMS can contract with them as winning bidders.
The proposed additions and revisions to the DMEPOS supplier enrollment standards are expected to help ensure that only legitimate DMEPOS suppliers participate in Medicare. The proposed rule was published in the Jan. 25, 2008, Federal Register. Comments will be accepted until March 25, and a final rule will be published later this year.
