CMS Held Special Bidders Conference For DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Today
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held a special bidders conference call at 2 p.m. eastern time today (July 9) to address issues and challenges associated with the bidding process for the first round of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.
The Competitive Bidding Submission System (CBSS) was automatically logging users out of the system after two hours due to a systems security setting built into the bidding process and providers were losing their data or getting kicked out of the system. CMS corrected that problem by extending the security time from two hours to 12 hours effective immediately.
CMS indicated that suppliers can stay in the system for up to 12 hours but they must send information to the server at least every 30 minutes in order to keep their session open. Suppliers should press the "update" or "submit" button on their current page or they should visit their home page by clicking on the "home" link on the top left corner of the application.
CMS also advised providers to ignore a screen that pops up requesting providers to change their user profiles and passwords. CMS recommended that providers close the browser and start over if they receive this screen. Previously providers were changing their passwords and profiles on the screen and not being able to get back into the system after doing so. CMS advised providers to keep the same information they used upon registration with the National Supplier Clearinghouse.
One provider called in asking why there are HCPCS codes for a product -- a drive belt for a power wheelchair -- that hasn't been made in more than 20 years, and CMS responded saying their codes are determined by the claims that providers are submitting. CMS said either providers are still submitting claims for those HCPCS codes or they are submitting false claims. CMS said they will delete codes upon determing that there is no product represented. CMS indicated that this is what competitive bidding is supposed to do -- weed out fradulent claims.
CMS reminded providers that they have to submit a bid for each product in an entire product category and they have to be at or below the fee schedule amount for every HCPCS code within that category.
For more information on the program, please visit www.dmecompetitivebid.com.
This article originally appeared in the July 2007 issue of HME Business.