National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) Updates DMEPOS Supplier Standards
As previously reported, on August 27, 2010, CMS published a final rule that clarifies and expands the requirements that suppliers of DME, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) must meet to establish and maintain Medicare billing privileges. Among many other things, the rule prohibits suppliers from sharing a practice location with any other Medicare supplier or provider (with certain exceptions), imposes new physical facility requirements on suppliers, and generally prohibits suppliers from contracting with another individual to perform licensed services. The effective date of the rule is September 27, 2010 (although there are separate deadlines for compliance with the physical facility standards for existing suppliers with leases that expire after that date). The NSC has released an updated version of the supplier standards, along with an abbreviated version that can be distributed to Medicare beneficiaries. Note that key operational issues associated with the new rule still have not been clarified; further guidance is expected to be forthcoming.
