News and Updates

From CMS: Counts of Contracts Offered for Competitive Bidding

(March 31, 2008)

Less than 14 per Bidding Area for Enteral Nutrition

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the number of suppliers offered contracts by product category and Competitive Bidding Area (CBA) for Round One of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.

Across nine CBAs, contracts have been offered for enteral nutrients, equipment and supplies to an average of 13.8 suppliers per CBA, ranging from 10 in Pittsburg to 21 in Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Miami Beach.  Counts for all product categories are posted on a chart provided by CMS.

The agency writes that the information in its chart represents the number of contract offers, NOT the actual number of contracts that will be awarded.  In addition, this information does not represent the number of supplier locations for each supplier entity/organization. Some supplier entities have a number of locations throughout a CBA that would be servicing the area if a contract is awarded.