Providers can register to make bids
By HME News Staff
Updated Sun April 15, 2007
WASHINGTON - CMS kicked off an initial registration process last week for providers interested in participating in national competitive bidding. Providers must go through the process to get the user ID and password they'll need to submit a bid.
CMS expects to open bidding later this month.
To complete the registration, go to https://applications.cms.hhs.gov. CMS noted that the data provided should match the data on file at the National Supplier Clearinghouse (last name, date of birth, Social Security number and supplier number). CMS will deliver user IDs and passwords in two separate mailings.
CMS recommends providers complete the registration early to avoid delays.
At last week's Special Open Door Forum, at least one provider told CMS officials that she wasn't able to complete the registration successfully. Officials directed her to call the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) helpline at 877-577-5331.
"I do note that the info on your NSC file does have to match perfectly with the information that you submit to get your user ID and password," a CMS official said. "I would also like to note that if you were trying yesterday (April 10), we were having some technical difficulties with the system and the helpline had to advise folks to try again. So if you're confident that the information in the NSC file is correct, I'd try working with the helpline and try again."
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