The Center for Medicare Advocacy (the Center) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding proposed rules affecting durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS). The Center requested that CMS:
- Seek to maximize beneficiary access to DMEPOS;
- Clarify supplier responsibilities to provide beneficiaries with appropriate products and timely services;
- Develop appropriate enforcement mechanisms to ensure suppliers are following regulations and policies in order to protect both beneficiaries and the Medicare program;
- Properly communicate to suppliers that the proposed payment strategy, Lead Item Pricing, will be monitored to prevent adaptive profit-making that would result in reduced access to equipment or supplies; and
- Define “Value” in DMEPOS supplier contracts as a multi-faceted CMS commitment that is grounded in more than short-term financial results and includes effective/quality products, responsive service, follow-up, long-term results and long-term cost savings.
See our full comments at: https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/center-comments-on-proposed-dmepos-rules/
September 13 – K. Holt