CMS has announced that as of September 3, 2008 several supplier types are now exempt from all accreditation requirements. Among this supplier group are:
- Physicians
- Orthotists
- Prosthetists
- Pedorthists
- Opticians
- Optometrists
- Audiologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
Suppliers that fall in this subset are reminded that if they provide other durable medical equipment outside of their specialty, they will be required to be accredited to bill Medicare.
In addition, suppliers that provide drugs and pharmaceuticals only are exempt from the accreditation requirement. If the supplier provides equipment to administer drugs or pharmaceuticals, the supplier must be accredited.
As an exempted supplier, if your enrollment application was returned previously for non-accreditation, you must resubmit your 855S to the NSC. Billing privileges will not be retroactive due to new accreditation exemptions. All other suppliers that require accreditation to obtain/maintain Medicare billing privileges must submit accreditation documentation to the NSC by the following deadlines.
Active suppliers enrolled prior to January 1, 2008, and those suppliers enrolled January 1, 2008, through February 29, 2008, must submit accreditation documentation to the NSC no later than October 1, 2009.
As of March 1, 2008, all DMEPOS suppliers with the exception of the exemptions listed above are required to be accredited prior to enrolling with the National Supplier Clearinghouse.