Evaluation of Medicare's Competitive Bidding Demonstration for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies. Second Annual Report to Congress

摘要

Section 1847 of the Social Security Act authorized the Secretary to conduct Demonstration Projects for Competitive Acquisition of Items and Services. In these projects, Medicare Part B items and services (other than physician services) can be furnished under competitively awarded contracts. The competitions are conducted in competitive acquisition areas, defined under the act as a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) or a smaller area within an MSA. In response to section 1847, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designed and implemented the Competitive Bidding Demonstration for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS). The demonstration has been implemented in two sites. Texas is the second site of the demonstration. In San Antonios Bexar, Comal, and Guadalupe counties, CMS conducted bidding in 2000 for five categories of DMEPOS: oxygen, hospital beds and accessories, wheelchairs and accessories, general orthotics, and nebulizer drugs. Fifty-one suppliers were selected and began serving Medicare beneficiaries under the new fees in February 2001. The San Antonio site will continue operations until December 2002, the statutorily required termination date of the BBA demonstration authority.