Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has announced that registration is now open to all suppliers interested in participating in the Round 1 Recompete of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (“DMEPOS”) Competitive Bidding Program.
In order to submit a bid for the Round 1 Recompete, suppliers will need to first register in the Individuals Authorized Access to the CMS Computer Services (“IACS”) online application. Once suppliers are registered in IACS, suppliers will receive a user ID and password to access the online DMEPOS Bidding System (“DBidS”). Suppliers must register even if they registered during a previous round of competition (i.e., Round 1 Rebid, Round 2, or the national mail-order competition). Suppliers that do not register will not be able to bid.
A Supplier who plans to register will need to designate one individual listed as an authorized official (“AO”) on its organization’s CMS-855S enrollment form in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (“PECOS”) to act as its AO for registration purposes. The AO must be the first person in the organization to register in IACS. After an AO successfully registers, other individuals listed as authorized officials on the CMS-855S in PECOS may register as backup authorized officials (“BAOs”). The AO must approve a BAO’s request to register. For the AO and BAOs to register successfully, the name and Social Security number entered in IACS must match exactly with what is recorded on the CMS-855S and on file in PECOS. Individuals not listed as authorized officials on the CMS-855S in PECOS may register to serve as end users (“EUs”). The AO or a BAO must approve an EU’s request to register. Bidders are prohibited from sharing user IDs and passwords.
CMS encourages all AOs to register no later than September 7, 2012, to ensure that BAOs and EUs have time to register before bidding begins. CMS further recommends that BAOs register no later than September 28, 2012, so that they will be able to assist AOs with approving EU registration.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the foregoing or would like additional information, please contact your regular Hall Render attorney, or Todd Selby at tselby@wp.hallrender.com or 317.977.1440, or Kendra Conover at kconover@wp.hallrender.com or 317.977.1456.
