DME retailers often must obtain a sales tax permit from each state they operate in. DME retailers may also need to obtain accreditation from one of the 10 national accreditation service approved by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). If you wish to participate in Medicare or Medicaid, additional registrations may be required.
Full Answer
How to become a DME supplier for Medicare?
The accreditation process is the main answer to the question how to become a DME supplier for Medicare. You have to select one of the 10 approved by the CMS accreditation organizations and get acquainted with their procedure. Then you have to fill in an official application with the respective organization.
How does Medicare pay for DME?
Medicare pays for different kinds of DME in different ways. Depending on the type of equipment: You may need to rent the equipment. You may need to buy the equipment. You may be able to choose whether to rent or buy the equipment. Medicare will only cover your DME if your doctors and DME suppliers are enrolled in Medicare.
What information do I need to submit to the DME Mac?
When hardcopy CMNs or DIFs are submitted to the DME MAC, the supplier must include a copy of only the front side. When CMNs are submitted electronically, information from sections A and B are required. Noridian provides fillable CMNs and DIFs, in which data can be entered and printed.
Does Medicare cover durable medical equipment (DME)?
Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers Medically necessary DME if your doctor prescribes it for use in your home. DME that Medicare covers includes, but isn't limited to: Blood sugar meters. Blood sugar test strips.
How do you get a Medicare product approved?
Go to an in-person doctor visit, where your doctor will write an order for the DME. Take the order to a Medicare-approved DME supplier. Depending on the product, ask the supplier if they will deliver it to your home. Find out if Medicare requires prior authorization for your DME.
What is DME accreditation?
Durable Medical Equipment accreditation is available to DME suppliers that provide sleep-related DME to patients. This includes both free-standing suppliers and sleep facilities that provide DME equipment to their patients. Complete your DME application now or contact us for more information.
What are the requirements for coding durable medical equipment?
The Special Process of DME Billing and Coding. Durable medical equipment must be prescribed by a medical doctor, found medically necessary, and then approved by the patient's insurance company. Only then can the equipment be distributed to the patient.
What is Medicare Dmerc?
DMERCs were the Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carriers. The name change occurred in 2007. Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors is the current name of the Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carriers. Prior to the DME MAC label, they were also called Medicare A/B contractors.
How much does Achc accreditation cost?
ACHC - When you enroll a $1,500.00 not refundable deposit is required, $300.00 of which represents ACHC's administrative fee. You will then be sent a contract and 30 days after a payment of $6,900 is due, representing the remainder of your contract.
What is a surety bond for Medicare?
These bonds help protect against billing fraud and abuse. Typically, Medicare surety bonds renew annually and stay in place as long as you keep your license. The annual premium is often only 0.5% of the bond amount ($250) but may be higher in some circumstances.
Does DME need a modifier?
In addition to an appropriate HCPCS code for the DME item, many HCPCS codes require a modifier. The modifiers are used to provide more information about the item.
Are L codes considered DME?
L-Codes: Splinting and Bracing Before you can bill L-codes to Medicare, you must be a certified DME provider. If you haven't received your DME certification yet, here are some tips for billing Medicare for orthotic services: Bill 97760 for the initial assessment; Bill the patient for the device or supplies; and.
Does durable medical equipment have CPT codes?
There are over 500 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for patients' every day and extended use. This equipment includes oxygen systems and accessories, canes, wheelchairs, crutches, infusion pumps and glucose monitors.
What is a DME MAC?
A Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC) is a private insurance company that has a contract with Medicare to process durable medical equipment (DME) claims.
What is the purchase modifier for DME?
UE — USED DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT PURCHASE. This modifier is used for used DME items that are purchased. When using the UE modifier, you are indicating you have furnished the beneficiary with a used piece of equipment.
What does CGS mean in Medicare?
CGS Medicare stands for a Celerian Group Company. The company provides a variety of services for Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and medical equipment suppliers.
How to become a supplier for Medicare?
The most important step to becoming a supplier is to obtain DME accreditation . To do that, you have to comply with the supplier standards set for the Medicare program, as well as with the defined quality standards. You also need to provide a $50,000 DMEPOS surety bond as a part of the enrollment after receiving your accreditation.
How long does it take to get Medicare accreditation?
The accreditation can take up to nine months from the time of your application. Once you have obtained it, you have to undergo the Medicare enrollment with the CMS. Institutional providers have to use CMS-855A Form, while DMEPOS suppliers have to complete CMS-855S Form.
How much surety bond do I need for CMS?
You have to provide a $50,000 surety bond to the CMS. This amount is necessary for each NPI you have and want to use. Thus, you may need a larger bond amount if you have numerous practice locations as an organizational supplier. In order to get bonded, you have to pay a bond premium, which is a fraction of the required amount.
What is DMEPOS in Medicare?
Medical practitioners and medical service providing organizations that want to be able to bill the Medicare system for supplying Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) need to undergo a rigorous process.
Do dentists have to be accredited to use DMEPOS?
While there are exemptions, it is applicable to medical practitioners who want to act as suppliers of: Since the beginning of 2019, dentists providing DMEPOS to patients are also required to undergo an accreditation process and meet relevant requirements.
Do I need a NPI number for DME?
While this is not a part of the accreditation itself, getting a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number is necessary for meeting the DME license requirements. Existing providers typically have the number already, as it is required by the CMS and commercial healthcare insurers.
What is a DMEPOS file?
The DMEPOS public use file contains fee schedules for certain items that were adjusted based on information from the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program in accordance with Section 1834 (a) (1) (F) of the Act.
When will CMS reprocess claims?
Claims for these accessories submitted prior to July 1, 2020, with dates of service from January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020, will need to be reprocessed to ensure that CMS pays the unadjusted fee schedule amounts, as required by section 106 of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020.
What is Medicare Accessibility Act?
CMS is implementing the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act to ensure that beneficiaries have access to wheelchair accessories and seat and back cushions when furnished with Group 3 complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs. To ensure beneficiary access to these accessories particularly for these vulnerable populations, advance payment may be available for suppliers. Prior to July 1, suppliers will be paid the adjusted fee schedule rates. The average reduction during this period for these items is approximately 10%. During this time, CMS has announced that suppliers are able to submit a single advance payment request for multiple claims if the conditions described in CMS regulations at 42 CFR Section 421.214 are met. Additional information is below.
What is gap filling in Medicare?
For newly covered items of DMEPOS paid on a fee schedule basis where a Medicare fee does not exist , the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses a process to establish fees called gap-filling. This allows Medicare to establish a price that aligns with the statutory requirements for the DMEPOS fee schedule.
When will Medicare change the KU modifier?
As aforementioned, these system changes will be implemented on July 1, 2020.
What is a CGM?
CGMs are items of durable medical equipment (DME) that provide critical information on blood glucose levels to help patients with diabetes manage their disease . In January 2017, CMS issued a ruling providing for Medicare coverage of therapeutic CGMs.
Does Medicare cover CGMs?
Based on input from patients and other stakeholders, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing important changes in its written policies regarding how Medicare covers continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). These changes are consistent with the Agency’s approach of putting patients first and incentivizing innovation and use of e-technology.
What percentage of Medicare payment does a supplier pay for assignment?
If your supplier accepts Assignment you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B Deductible applies. Medicare pays for different kinds of DME in different ways. Depending on the type of equipment:
What is Medicare approved amount?
Medicare-Approved Amount. In Original Medicare, this is the amount a doctor or supplier that accepts assignment can be paid. It may be less than the actual amount a doctor or supplier charges. Medicare pays part of this amount and you’re responsible for the difference. , and the Part B.
What is Medicare assignment?
assignment. An agreement by your doctor, provider, or supplier to be paid directly by Medicare, to accept the payment amount Medicare approves for the service, and not to bill you for any more than the Medicare deductible and coinsurance. you pay 20% of the. Medicare-Approved Amount.
What happens if you live in an area that's been declared a disaster or emergency?
If you live in an area that's been declared a disaster or emergency, the usual rules for your medical care may change for a short time. Learn more about how to replace lost or damaged equipment in a disaster or emergency .
Does Medicare cover DME equipment?
You may be able to choose whether to rent or buy the equipment. Medicare will only cover your DME if your doctors and DME suppliers are enrolled in Medicare. Doctors and suppliers have to meet strict standards to enroll and stay enrolled in Medicare.
How long does it take to get a recertification for home oxygen therapy?
The recertification at three months must reflect the results of an arterial blood gas or oxygen saturation test conducted between the 61st and 90th day of home oxygen therapy. If the beneficiary no longer requires home oxygen therapy after three months, retesting is not necessary.
Do you have to maintain a copy of a faxed CMN?
It is in the supplier's interest to maintain a copy of what they faxed to the physician. Suppliers must maintain a copy of the completed CMN or DIF in their records. However, if the physician only faxes the front of the completed CMN then the supplier is only required to maintain the front portion of the CMN.
Do you have to send a CMN to a physician?
The CMN sent to the physician must be two-sided with instructions on the back. If the CMN is mailed to the physician, the supplier must send the two-sided form. If the CMN is faxed, the supplier must fax both the front and back of the form.
What is AO in Medicare?
Section 1865 (a) (1) of the Social Security Act (the Act) permits providers and suppliers "accredited" by an approved national accreditation organization (AO) to be exempt from routine surveys by State survey agencies to determine compliance with Medicare conditions.
Is AO required for Medicare?
Accreditation by an AO is voluntary and is not required for Medicare certification or participation in the Medicare Program. A provider’s or supplier’s ability to bill Medicare for covered services is not impacted if it chooses to discontinue accreditation from a CMS-approved AO or change AOs.
How long does it take to get a supplier number?
In addition, the purchaser must have a surety bond for each location that has a supplier number issued to it. It normally takes two to three months to obtain a new supplier number from the National Supplier Clearinghouse (“NSC”).
How much of a supplier's business should be referred to a single referral source?
As a general rule of thumb, a single referral source should not be responsible for more than ten percent (10%) of the supplier’s business.
What happens when you acquire a supplier?
When acquiring a supplier through a stock purchase, the acquired company carries with it the liabilities that arose prior to the purchase. When acquiring a supplier through an asset purchase, the purchasing entity is usually not liable for prior acts of the selling entity. However, in an asset acquisition if the government concludes ...
Is Medicare supplier number tied to tax ID number?
As a caveat, if the government concludes that the asset sale is, in reality, a “de facto merger,” then it might attempt to impose successor liability on the purchaser. Medicare supplier numbers are tied to tax identification numbers.
Is an asset acquisition a de facto merger?
However, in an asset acquisition if the government concludes that the asset sale is, in reality, a “de facto merger,”1 then the government might attempt to impose liability on the purchasing entity for the past activity of the selling entity. Although defenses can be raised to counter such an aggressive action by the government, ...
Can a purchaser bill for a claim until the supplier number is received?
Normally, during the interim period, the purchaser can sell products and services out of the new location, can accrue the claims to be submitted at a later date, but cannot actually bill for the claims until the new supplier number is received. In short, the purchaser will experience a cash flow crunch.