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National Competitive Bidding Resource Center
In early summer of 2009, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an initial general timetable for its implementation of the Medicare durable medical equipment (DME) competitive acquisition/competitive bid program. While the "go live" implementation date is currently scheduled for January 2011, the bid window will open in late October 2009, providing suppliers with a 60-day window in which to submit bids under the program. In July of 2008, CMS was set to implement the competitive bid program when Congress intervened and delayed the implementation of the program in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act.

Most of the Medicare rules pertaining to the competitive bid program have not been changed. For example, all the rules in the April 2, 2007, CMS Final Rule regarding implementation of National Competitive Bidding (NCB) remain the same. MIPPA did require CMS to make modest changes, most of which were reflected in a new Interim Final Rule that was effective in April 2009 (a summary is included on this site). This site includes all the information from CMS, including information gleaned from CMS' conference calls designed to educate the supplier community about the bid process and the details involved in submitting a bid. We'll post all the information that's available.

Invacare Corporation is committed to bringing you, our valued partners, the most current and comprehensive information and resources to help you understand and navigate the complexities of the NCB process. The Invacare NCB team, led by Cara Bachenheimer, Invacare's Senior VP of Government Relations, has created this dedicated site to provide you with the latest information, timelines, checklists, cost analyses, presentations, and other valuable resources so you have all the tools you need to assemble and submit an NCB bid.

This dedicated site will be updated continually as new resources are identified and new information becomes available. You can "bookmark" this site in your web browser and visit often to find all the resources you'll need to succeed in the new NCB environment.

Breaking News: October 2, 2009 - CMS Announces Oct 21 09 as Target Bid Window Opening, Diabetes Supplies will be Two Year Contract Period

Resource Center Topics


What To Do First
Most important, providers intending to submit one or more bids this fall should register now with CMS to obtain a USERNAME and PASSWORD . Click on the "Register with CMS" link below and you'll be connected directly to the CMS registration website. CMS has announced that October 21, 2009 is the target date for the opening of the 60-day bid window.

Also below, under the "Initial Registration Information" link, is a comprehensive document outlining the details of the CMS registration process. Providers should review the registration information prior to registering with CMS to insure that you have all the necessary information to complete the registration process.



CMS Competitive Bidding Rules
This section summarizes the April 18, 2009 CMS final rule which implements the minor changes Congress required CMS to make as part of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. This section provides a link to the complete April 18, 2009 final rule.

This section also summarizes the April 2007 401-page CMS Final Rule on National Competitive Bidding and provides a link to the complete 401-page CMS Final Rule document.



Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This document provides answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the National Competitive Bidding process. Invacare will continually update this document with additional information as it becomes available.



NCB Product Categories
This section details the 9 Product Categories that are subject to the NCB process. Included for easy reference are the products and accessories, along with the corresponding HCPCS codes and payment types (purchase and/or rental), for each item in each of the 9 Product Categories as defined by CMS.



Quality Standards / Accreditation
Please Note: All providers, including those participating in the NCB program, are required to obtain accreditation by September 30, 2009.

In this section, you will find specifics on the Quality Standards that must be adhered to by all NCB participants, as well as information on the accreditation requirements.

  • Accreditation Organizations and Resources
    Click this link to view a list of all the CMS-approved NCB accreditation organizations. We've provided links to each organization for easy navigation and information gathering.



    • Links to CMS & CBIC Websites
    Below is a comprehensive listing of official websites for CMS and the CBIC (Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor).



    Details on 9 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)
    This section details the 9 CBAs (Competitive Bidding Areas), and provides details on the number of Medicare beneficiaries, number of providers, and other utilization data for each CBA based on CMS' data. The 9 areas included in this round of the bid program are: Cincinnati-Middletown (Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana); Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor (Ohio); Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord (North Carolina and South Carolina); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (Texas); Kansas City (Missouri and Kansas); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach (Florida); Orlando (Florida); Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania);and Riverside-San Bernardino- Ontario (California).

    This section also includes a listing of ZIP Codes for each CBA, along with graphical maps for both the Equipment CBA areas and the Mail Order CBA areas.



    Small Business Provisions
    CMS' Final Rule defines Small Business providers as those with total revenues of $3.5 million or less. As well, the CMS Final Rule only permits Small Business providers to form networks. This section provides detailed information for Small Business providers on how they fit in to the NCB process.



    Network Information
    Information and details on the formation of competitive bidding networks is included in this section.



    Bid Forms & Instructions
    This section provides information and resources on the NCB bid process and the necessary forms required for submitting a bid, as well as instructions and processes providers must follow to submit an acceptable bid.

    CMS released the Updated forms to submit bids. Please note that all bids must be submitted electronically via the CBIC web site, we are providing links to and copies of these forms here. Form A is the Bid Application, and Form B is the Bidding form. The Request for Bids (RFB) Instructions provides details instructions on how you complete Form B.

    The bid window opens October 21, 2009.
  • Form A: Bid Application
  • Form B: Bid Form
  • RFB Instructions
  • Bidding Information Charts
  • Required Hardcopy Documents - Financial Information
  • CMS Sample Financial Information
  • What you Need to Know Before Submitting Your Bid - September 16, 2009
  • How a Bid is Evaluated - September 29, 2009
  • CMS Bid Submission Process - October 7, 2009




    • Policy Information
    This section identifies current legislative issues relating to National Competitive Bidding.



    This information is based on publicly-available information as of September 23, 2009. As information is subject to change, providers are encouraged to check with the applicable agencies for information updates. Invacare Corporation is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the information provided.