Competitive Bidding on Medicare Equipment for 2013

If your medical practice is located in a metro area, then you may qualify for the bidding on Medicare equipment initiative, designed to provide lower prices, improved quality, and better protection against Medicare fraud.

What is the DMEPOS?

Medicare’s new Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program is a new money-saving strategy that replaces out-of-date Medicare prices on medical equipment with lower, updated pricing. According to the Medicare site, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the aim of the program, now in its second year, is to:

• Help you save money, while also reducing government spending on Medicare
• Provide access to quality medical equipment from compliant Medicare suppliers
• Put an end to Medicare scams and extortions

What kind of merchandise in covered?

Durable medical equipment items include:

• Wheelchairs
• Scooters
• Complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs
• Walkers
• Prosthetics
• Orthotics
• Oxygen supplies
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices
• Respiratory Assist Devices (RADs),
• Mail-order diabetic testing supplies
• Hospital beds
• Support surfaces

When does the bidding on Medicare equipment program begin?

The new round of bidding for Medicare equipment commences on July 1; medical practices operating in one of 91 specified metro areas in the US requiring durable medical equipment through Medicare are obligated to take part in a new bidding program which requires them to obtain wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, prosthetics, and similar medical equipment only from suppliers taking part in the competitively-priced bidding program. According to the, the program has already saved over $200 million in Medicare spending.  Experts predict a 10-year savings of $26 billion in thwarted Medicare equipment scams and extortions.

How do I apply?

To find out if your medical practice is affected, visit the Medicare site for their Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Your turn! Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below. Share with your friends! If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, twitter, or Facebook. Like this? Read more: MRI Joint Project Saves Time & Money! When Purchasing Medical Imaging Equipment, Go Turnkey! Prevent Medicare Fraud Accusations – 10 Helpful Tips  Image credit