Only 1 Week Left to Register for the Round 1 Rebid of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
Reminder: If you are a supplier interested in participating in the Round 1 Rebid of the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program, you must register before November 4, 2009 at 9:00 p.m. EST. Suppliers that do not register cannot bid and are not eligible for contracts. Don't wait - go to www.dmecompetitivebid.com <http://www.dmecompetitivebid.com/> and register TODAY! The target registration dates for Authorized Officials (AOs) and Backup Authorized Officials (BAOs) to register in CMS' Individuals Authorized Access to the CMS Computer Services (IACS) system have passed. End Users (EUs), as well as any AOs and BAOs who have not yet registered, should be registering now. Only suppliers that have registered and received a user ID and password will be able to access the on-line bidding system and submit bids. If the AO for your company has not already registered, we cannot guarantee that he or she will be able to complete the registration process before registration closes. This is especially a concern if the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) record for your company is not current and accurate. If your AO does not register, you cannot bid and will not be eligible for a contract. In addition, suppliers whose AOs have not registered are at risk of experiencing delays in accessing the on-line bidding system to get a bidder number and thereby missing the opportunity to submit financial documents by the Covered Document Review Date (CDRD). If you have registered an AO but not a BAO, we strongly recommend that a BAO register now. The establishment of a BAO is encouraged, if your company has someone who can occupy the BAO role, to avoid any disruption in the bidding process. The individual in the BAO role can assume the AO role if for some reason the AO can no longer fulfill his or her bidding responsibilities. If there is no BAO for a company and the AO leaves the company, all end users associated with the company will lose access to the bidding system. Remember, the AO and BAO must be listed on the CMS-855S enrollment form as an AO. Once the AO registers, then the AO's user ID and password will be sent by mail and should be delivered within 10 days after successful registration. After an AO receives his or her user ID and password, the AO may designate other employees to serve as BAOs and/or EUs. BAOs and EUs must also register in order to be able to use the on-line bidding system. The legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number (SSN) of the AO and BAOs must match exactly with what is on file with the NSC in order to register successfully. Legal names, dates of birth, and SSNs of all users must also match what is on file with the Social Security Administration. No AOs, BAOs, or EUs can register after registration closes on November 4, 2009 at 9:00 p.m. EST. To register, go to the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) website at www.dmecompetitivebid.com <http://www.dmecompetitivebid.com/> . Please review the IACS Reference Guide for step-by-step instructions on registration. The CBIC web site also has the following useful registration tools: a checklist; Quick Step guides; and frequently asked questions. If you have any questions about the registration process, please contact the CBIC Customer Service Center at 1-877-577-5331. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------- Flu Season is upon us! CMS encourages providers to begin taking advantage of each office visit to encourage your patients with Medicare to get seasonal flu shots. Flu shots are their best defense against combating flu this season. And don't forget-health care workers also need to protect themselves. Medicare provides coverage of the flu vaccine without any out-of-pocket costs to the Medicare patient as a part B benefit. No deductible or copayment/coinsurance applies. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered Drug. For more information about Medicare's coverage of the seasonal influenza vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational resources for health care professionals, please go to (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp) on the CMS website. 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