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In brief: CMS outlines timeframe, NCART seeks Medicaid info

In brief: CMS outlines timeframe, NCART seeks Medicaid info

BALTIMORE - CMS officials sketched out a timeline for Rounds 1 and 2 of national competitive bidding during a visit to Capitol Hill last week, AAHomecare reported. The timeline:

Round 1

- CMS will announce Round 1 “winners” in June 2010.

- New contracts and prices will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2011.

- CMS will hold a PAOC meeting on March 17, 2010, focus on the Round 1 transition period and show plans for beneficiary education.

Round 2

- Round 2 of bidding must begin in 2011, according to the statute.

- CMS is extending review times due to the increase in MSAs—from 10 areas in Round 1 to 79 areas in Round 2.

- Rule making: CMS expects that changes to the bidding program will require the agency to go through the rulemaking process. CMS anticipates that a proposed rule will be published in Summer 2010 with a final rule published in Fall 2010. The rule will include product categories and education requirements for Round 2.

- Winter 2010: CMS will announce the bid schedule and begin registration.

- Spring 2011: CMS will end registration and begin bidding.

- Summer 2011: CMS will end bidding and begin review process.

- Fall 2011: CMS will end review process, notify HME providers and begin evaluating bids.

- Spring 2012: CMS will announce “winning” providers and begin contract bids.

- Summer 2012: CMS will announce contract rates.

- Round 2 pricing will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2013.



NCART: Tell us about your Medicaid program

BUFFALO, N.Y. - NCART sent an e-mail to members last week, asking them to complete a survey on Medicaid coverage and payment in their areas. The 20-page survey includes questions like “how is complex rehab paid for”: at submitted charges, at Medicare fee schedule, at discount off Medicare, at other established fee schedule, at percentage off MSRP, or at cost-plus a percentage? NCART hopes to collect data from all 50 states. The survey will be open until March 31. The results will then be summarized and made available on the group's Web site, www.ncart.us.



CMS shuts down PECOS—temporarily

WASHINGTON - PECOS will be unavailable from March 29 to April 5 due to scheduled maintenance, CMS announced last week.

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