These are in no particular order…but are illustrative of various issues we are monitoring at VGM.  Look for several more of these to follow!  As always, if you have questions or concerns regarding the Round 2 program, email me at mark.higley@vgm.com.  Good luck!

1).  “PECOS” — Does a DME supplier have to have an enrollment record in internet based
PECOS in order to place a bid for round two?

Reply:  The PECOS application is not a competitive bidding application. However, a supplier has to still have its information updated in PECOS whether it be through entering the data into PECOS itself or submitting a revised CMS 855-S enrollment form. In the Request for Bids (RFB), it says, “Suppliers should ensure that their enrollment file is up-to-date in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) and with the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) as information in the enrollment file will be verified during the registration and bidding process.”

For more information about registering with External User Services (EUS) to view your enrollment file in PECOS, please refer to the EUS website at www.eushelpdesk.com or you may contact EUS at 866-523-4759. If you have additional questions, please contact the CBIC Help Desk at 1-877-577-5331.

2).  DBidS glitches?  AAHomecare spoke with senior CMS staff about problems that some HME providers are encountering when submitting bidding information in the competitive bidding DBidS system.  CMS is instructing all HME providers who are encountering problems to either call the CBIC or fill out a “trouble ticket” with the CBIC.   Our experience has been that the CBIC is very responsive to e-mail.  There is a daily senior CMS staff meeting at 9:30 am ET, which includes CMS’ IT contractor and CBIC staff, where they review all issues related to the bidding program. 

3).  E0193 (and other low utilization codes in the Support Surfaces (Group 2 Mattresses and Overlays) category:  Yes, for this code (and many others) you will likely not find a major manufacturer and model number.  That is OK!  It’s an issue most bidders are facing in at least some cases, and one that we have made the CBIC aware of.  The reality, for the time being, is that you must bid on all codes.  Two points here: a)  you only need list the manufacturer and model number for top (high utilization) codes  — and, according to the CBIC bidding worksheet…

Hence — it is extremely rare and you’d likely never have to supply it, and MOST importantly…this and similar codes have such low utilization rates (bid weight) that they are virtually inconsequential to your chances of being awarded a contract.  Bid a penny under the fee schedule/bid limit and move on.

 More to follow…