CMS adjusts start of registration, bidding for Round 2028

WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will open the bidder registration window for Round 2028 of the DMEPOS competitive bidding program (CBP) on Dec. 1, 2026, and the bid window on Jan. 5, 2027, to give providers additional time to prepare.

Originally, the agency planned to open the bid window later this year.

CMS has also published additional fact sheets and FAQs, as well as request for bid instructions. It has also opened the competitive bidding implementation contractor (CBIC) customer service center.

The new timeline for Round 2028 is as follows:

June 4, 2026

• CMS begins pre-bidding supplier awareness program
• CMS announces lead items for the DMEPOS CBP product categories

Aug. 13, 2026

• CMS provides additional bid preparation education
• CMS announces number of contracts to award for each product category

Oct. 7, 2026

• CMS announces specific dates for registration and bidding
• CMS provides additional bid preparation education
• CMS opens the CBIC customer service center

Dec. 1, 2026

• Bidding registration for Round 2028 opens

Jan. 5, 2027

• Bid window opens

Feb. 1, 2027

• Bidding registration for Round 2028 closes

Feb. 8, 2027

• Covered document review date

March 10, 2027

• Bid window closes

*Late Winter/Spring 2027

• CMS initiates and completes the following bidder notification processes:
  • Bona fide bid review
  • Preliminary bid evaluation
  • Covered document review
  • Bid surety bond review

*Late Summer/Early Fall 2027

• CMS announces contract suppliers and single payment amounts (SPAs)
• Beneficiary education begins

Jan. 1, 2028

• Start of Round 2028 – Contracts and SPAs in effect
• Six-month transition (grace) period begins for contract suppliers to obtain written orders for beneficiaries using non-contract suppliers prior to Jan. 1, 2028