ALEXANDRIA, VA – The National Community Pharmacists Association has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to suspend the Medicare Part B durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies accreditation requirement scheduled for Oct. 1.

In a letter to Charlene Frizzera, CMS' acting administratror, the NCPA wrote, “Pharmacies, already regulated and licensed by the states, should not have to undergo this time-consuming, expensive and redundant process in order to continue selling DMEPOS to their patients, such as diabetes testing strips."

Both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have inserted language into healthcare reform bills adding pharmacists to the list of healthcare professionals exempted from this regulation. However, the NCPA contends neither chamber will pass their respective bills, get them reconciled, vote on final passage and have them signed into law by the president before the deadline.

The NCPA is asking the CMS to use its regulatory authority to suspend the deadline.

“As it currently stands, there is great confusion in the pharmacy community as to what options are available to pharmacies who may or may not be able to obtain full notice of accreditation by the National Supply Clearinghouse by the October 1 deadline; of whether accreditation and/or surety bonds are required of those pharmacies that provide only Part B drugs, but do not provide DMEPOS; and what might happen to pharmacies that have or have not achieved accreditation by the October 1 deadline, should Congress indeed pass legislation before or after that date,” the letter said.

Photo obtained from a.drian through Creative Commons license -Ed.