Medicare Updates 2021 Timeline, Provides Resources to Aid Bidding

On May 2, CMS used its discretion to push back several key dates, giving suppliers a bit more time to prepare for bidding.  Earlier, the agency stated that the 2021 bid window would begin in June.

The updated timeline establishes:

• June 10, 2019 - Registration begins. (Registration will be open for 70 days)
• July 16, 2019 - Bid window opens. (Bidding will be open for 64 days)
• August 16, 2019 - Registration closes.
• August 19, 2019 - Covered Document Review Date.
• September 18, 2019 - Bid window closes.
• Fall 2019 - Preliminary bid evaluation notification
• Summer 2020 - Contracting begins.
• Fall 2020 - Suppliers announced.
• January 1, 2021 - Start of competition.
• December 31, 2023 - End of competition.

[Are you ready to have every group 2 support surface setup scrutinized by medical review? How about your referral sources? We know you are busy, so let us help you get ready for mandatory prior authorization.]

Along with the timeline announcement, the CBIC posted 18 new fact sheets and the remaining key resources to round out bid preparation and submission:

• Bid Preparation Worksheet and Utilization Reports
• Form A
• Form B
• Request for Bids Instructions

The CBIC is delivering several educational webinars that are available for registration:

• Bid Surety Bond and Lead Item Pricing (playback available now).
• Preparing and Submitting Financial Documents (playback available now).
• Registering and Submitting a Bid Part 1 (available June 11 at 3:00 PM EDT).
• Registering and Submitting a Bid Part 2 (available June 23 at 3:00 PM EDT).

 
With these final additions, suppliers now have all the critical details to successfully advance bid submissions.  
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