Bid News Blog

From: HME News

by: Theresa Flaherty

CMS data appears to show that Medicare beneficiaries in Pittsburgh who receive Durable Medical Equipment (DME) through CMS’ competitive bidding program have higher death rates compared to Detroit which does not yet have DME acquisition through the bidding program. As an article in Inside Health Policy observed,

For example, charts in the CMS report show that death rates were higher in Pittsburgh, where products are competitively bid, compared with Detroit, where there is no bidding.

Higher death rates of Medicare beneficiaries as a result of competitive bidding was also expected by Professor Peter Cramton of the University of Maryland based on his analysis of CMS data. As Dr. Cramton explained,

From: CMS

CBIC Website Enhancements Coming Soon

The Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) website, www.dmecompetitivebid.com, is being reorganized. What does this mean for you? It means it will be easier to locate the specific information that applies to each competitive bidding round. For example, you will be able to go to the Round 1 Rebid section for information about the Round 1 Rebid or go to the Round 2 and national mail-order section for information about these two competitions. Also, you will be able to receive round-specific e-mail notifications and updates.

From: CMS

The 2012 Spring Medtrade Conference and Exposition is coming soon! This year’s conference will be held April 10th – 12th at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The CBIC outreach and education team will be available to answer your questions at the Medicare Contractors booth #957. Joining us at the booth will be representatives from DME MAC Jurisdictions A, B, C, and D; the National Supplier Clearinghouse; and the Common Electronic Data Interchange contractor. On April 12th, the CBIC will provide a one-hour presentation on the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program.