On October 21, 2009, CMS sent letters out to beneficiaries telling them that their Medical Equipment supplier "hasn't yet" met the new requirements to become Medicare-approved.  Starting October 1, 2009, the supplier can no longer bill Medicare for your medical equipment or supplies.  For a copy of the notification letter that is being sent out to beneficiaries along with additional information on Medicare's new accreditation and surety bond requirements for DMEPOS suppliers, go to:

 

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Partnerships/03_DMEPOS_Toolkit.asp#TopOfPage 
 
Several DAC and other State Association members reported their beneficiaries began receiving these letters over the past 10 days. To make matters worse, these suppliers have met both accreditation and bonding requirements and this has been verified by the NSC. But now, their phones have been ringing from concerned customers asking what is going on. This forces the supplier to have to notify all their Medicare patients that they have indeed met the requirements and that it is okay for them to continue to provide equipment and supplies.  Also, CMS is reaching out to Medicaid offices and other referral sources on this as well.
 
Senator Roberts of Kansas office has been contacted regarding this matter and his office contacted CMS, who has agreed to send out a letter to all beneficiaries whose Medical Equipment supplier was in compliance to state the previous letter was sent in error.
 
CMS is requesting that suppliers who feel their beneficiaries received these letters in error notify the NSC to verify that they are in compliance with accreditation and the surety bond requirements.  If the supplier finds that they were in compliance on October 1, 2009, CMS has told Senator Roberts office that they will send out the recession letter to their beneficiaries.

 

The CMS contact is Sandra Bastinelli at Sandra.Bastinelli@cms.hhs.gov or 410-786-3630.