CMS removes BOC from list of approved accreditation organizations 

WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has withdrawn its approval of the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) as an accreditation organization for suppliers of durable medical equipment (DME) effective Dec. 2. 

The agency says BOC no longer has the authority to survey suppliers for compliance with the DMEPOS quality standards or perform any other functions of a CMS-approved DMEPOS accreditation organization for the purpose of Medicare enrollment as of that date. 

BOC is no longer authorized to: 

• Perform reaccreditation activities 
• Conduct surveys or provide accreditation for new location(s) 
• Conduct surveys or provide accreditation for new products 
• Execute any other functions as a CMS-approved accreditation organization 

CMS provided the following reminders: 

• Suppliers seeking to renew accreditation, change location, update ownership information, add new products, or modify any other information pertaining to DMEPOS accreditation must obtain accreditation from a CMS-approved accreditation organization. Click here for a current list of CMS-approved DMEPOS accreditation organizations. 
• Suppliers must update their Medicare enrollment information within 30 days of obtaining new accreditation by submitting a CMS-855S form through one of the following methods: 
  • Online: https://pecos.cms.hhs.gov 
  • By mail: Send a paper CMS-855S form to your National Provider Enrollment Contractor 

The agency also provided the following Q&A: 

How does this impact DMEPOS suppliers that are in the process of becoming accredited by BOC? 

Prospective Medicare DMEPOS suppliers must obtain accreditation by a CMS-approved AO to enroll in Medicare. Therefore, prospective DMEPOS suppliers that were in the process of getting accredited through BOC must seek out one of the CMS-approved DMEPOS AOs for potential accreditation.  

Where can DMEPOS suppliers obtain more information about the accreditation and Medicare enrollment requirements? 

This MLN Fact Sheet provides information on DMEPOS Accreditation and enrollment. 

Background

In June, BOC and CMS agreed that the company wouldn't accept new accreditation and reaccreditation applications in Florida, Texas, California and New York for a three-year period following misconduct by a former independent contractor.   

At that time, BOC said its goal was to resume full activity in the four states in less than three years.