Open Door Forum: CMS Sets Record Straight on Accreditation Deadline for All HMEs

October 15, 2007

In the first Open Door Forum since bidding for the first round of competitive bidding officially ended, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quashed rumors of an April 2009 deadline for all providers to be accredited.

"We do not have a drop-dead deadline for all DMEPOS suppliers," said Sandra Bastinelli, medical review and education division director. "When we do it will be on the CMS Web site."

In fact, Bastinelli said April 2009 was not even close to dates CMS is considering.

Bastinelli also reminded providers of the impending Oct. 31 accreditation deadline for the first 10 MSAs. She mentioned that some providers were refusing unannounced on-site surveys.

"Three weeks before the date is not the time to be refusing an on-site survey," Bastinelli said. She further iterated that refusing the survey is equivalent to refusing to be accredited. Bastinelli warned providers in the second round of competitive bidding to hold off applying for accreditation until they are ready for the on-site survey.

During the Q&A portion, Alexandra Bennewith, government affairs, AAHomecare, asked about a new draft of DMEPOS quality standards dated August 2007. CMS responded that the official standards currently being used are dated August 2006.