The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the 60-day supplier bidding period will begin in late October for the Round One Rebid of the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). The rebid will occur in the same areas as the first round, with the exception of Puerto Rico, and will cover most of the same types of items.
The Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program was established by the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. Round One of the program was implemented on July 1, 2008, in 10 competitive bidding areas. As part of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) enacted on July 15, 2008, Congress enacted a temporary delay of the Competitive Bidding Program and mandated limited changes in the program. MIPPA required CMS to terminate contracts awarded in Round One and to conduct the competition for the Round One Rebid in 2009. MIPPA also delayed competition for Round Two in 70 additional areas until 2011 and in additional areas of the country until after 2011.
Read the CMS press release.
