With great pride and enthusiasm, Palmetto GBA announces they have been awarded the national contract for the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding program by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Palmetto GBA is the only company to be awarded this contract since the program was established and mandated by Congress through the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003. Palmetto GBA was first awarded the contract on September 29, 2006, and this new contract period extends through 2026.

The DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program has been an essential tool to help Medicare set market-based payment rates for certain DMEPOS items, save money for Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers, and limit fraud and abuse in the Medicare program. The program has saved billions of dollars since implementation while ensuring access to quality items and services.

Under the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program, suppliers compete to become Medicare contract suppliers by submitting bids to furnish certain items in areas across the country. As the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC), Palmetto GBA makes recommendations to CMS for the preparation of each competition, including assisting in identifying the competitive bidding areas and items to be included in each competition, educating on the bid submission process, evaluating thousands of bids, and recommending to CMS bidding suppliers that should be awarded contracts. Contracts are awarded to the Medicare suppliers who offer the best price and meet applicable quality and financial standards. The CBIC also monitors the contract suppliers to ensure they comply with their obligations and Medicare beneficiaries are not negatively affected.