Durable medical equipment (DME) rules rolled back during COVID-19, applications being accepted

Another COVID-19 roll-back in regulations occurred this month in the chiropractic industry as the Trump administration has waived former rules and procedures pertaining to becoming a Medicare DME (durable medical equipment) provider.

“Applications are now being processed by Medicare DME within 7-14 days after filing, and 90% of the fees are being waived,” James Antos, DC, DABCO, told Chiropractic Economics this week. “Accreditation requirement is also being waived at this time. I have never seen a window like this in Medicare DME application for certification. This window is for the next 90 days but I believe it will close sooner.”

Last year, before this new ruling, the The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) changed DME provider rules with the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Round 2021, introducing competitive bidding and only a select number of regional health care offices allowed to supply certain categories of DME product.

Antos is the owner of Antos & Associates, LLC, and serves as a consultant in the areas of DME provider applications, documentation and clinical appropriateness, and has been licensed for chiropractic practice in Florida since 1978.

JAMES C. ANTOS, DC, DABCO, of Antos & Associates, LLC, can be contacted at antosdmebrace.com, Antsjm@hotmail.com, or 386-212-0007.