I was thrilled to get word from the AOA’s Washington office today that CMS has reversed the requirement for all new durable medical equipment (post-cataract eyewear) suppliers to show proof of accreditation (and fees associated with that accreditation). This was a burdensome requirement that had held up several practitioners from being reimbursed for providing post-cataract eyewear. We’ve had stories across the country of offices with several thousand dollars in payments held up by this new requirement that went into March 1, 2008.
The partial message below is from Jon Hymes, our Washington office director to the state executive directors.
A quick note to let you know that the AOA Washington Office has just learned that CMS officials have notified the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) that “new” durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) supplier applications from physicians, including ODs, will not require accreditation. This will provide immediate relief for optometrists across the country who have been barred from enrollment or re-enrollment as DMEPOS suppliers without going through the accreditation process, including payment of a substantial accreditation fee.
This reversal by CMS is a result of a months-long lobbying effort by the AOA and other provider groups aimed at winning needed changes in the misguided DMEPOS accreditation requirement announced earlier this year. In fact, during the most recent meeting with CMS officials on this issue (it was yesterday), Kelly Hipp and Rodney Peele of the AOA Washington Office team again detailed the harmful impact on ODs and patients of extending the accreditation requirement to post-cataract eyeware.
In addition to our AOA staff who work for our patients and our members every day, a special thank you to the AOA members across the country who contacted their Congressmen and Senators. This is a win for our patients and our practices.
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