February 10, 2009
CMS Seeks Public Comment on Extending the Effective Date of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Interim Final Rule
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a notice seeking comment on a contemplated delay of 60 days in the effective date of the interim final rule entitled "Medicare Program; Changes to the Competitive Acquisition of Certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) by Certain Provisions of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA)." This notice is in accordance with the White House Chief of Staff's memorandum of January 20, 2009 entitled "Regulatory Review."
The interim final rule, published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2009, implements certain MIPPA provisions that (1) delay implementation of Round I of the competitive bidding program, (2) require CMS to conduct a second Round 1 competition in 2009, and (3) mandate certain changes for the Round 1 rebid and subsequent rounds of the program, including the development of a process for providing feedback to suppliers regarding missing financial documentation and the requirement that contractors disclose to CMS information regarding subcontracting relationships.
Since the effective date of the interim final rule is February 17, the comment
period initiated by this notice is abbreviated; comments must be received
on or before February 12, 2009. To view the notice, please visit
http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-02839_PI.pdf 
