Medicare Claims Processing Manual (Pub. 100-04), Ch. 19 § 40.3
Provider Enrollment with DME MAC
40.3 - Provider Enrollment with DME MAC
(Rev. 1040, Issued: 08-25-06, Effective: 09-11-06, Implementation: 09-11-06)
All IHS providers and suppliers that do not currently have a supplier number and want to
bill for DMEPOS items must enroll with the NSC.
Beginning July 1, 2005, IHS providers (including CAHs) and pharmacies were eligible to
begin billing for DME. The NSC must accept enrollment applications from IHS and
tribally operated hospitals (including CAHs) or hospital-based facilities and pharmacies
providing DME beginning April 1, 2005.
All IHS facilities and pharmacies, whether operated by the IHS or a tribe, enrolled by the
NSC, shall meet all required standards as set forth in 42 CFR 424.57. Compliance with
the standards will be verified by the review procedures for all other DMEPOS suppliers
except as discussed herein.
All IHS facilities and pharmacies, whether operated by the IHS or a tribe, shall be exempt
from the comprehensive liability insurance requirements under 42 CFR 424.57(c)(10).
All IHS facilities and pharmacies, whether operated by the IHS or a tribe, shall be exempt
from the requirement to provide any State licenses for their facility/business. For
example, if a DMEPOS supplier indicates on its application that it will be providing
hospital beds and is located in a State that requires a bedding license, such license is not
required. However, if they provide a DMEPOS item that requires a licensed professional
in order to properly provide the item, they shall provide a copy of the professional
license. The licensed professional may be licensed in any State or have a Federal license.
For example, a pharmacy does not need a pharmacy license, but shall have a licensed
pharmacist on staff.
Site visits shall be conducted for all facilities of the IHS enrolling as IHS suppliers. For
enrollment purposes Medicare recognizes those facilities operated by the IHS and those
facilities operated by the tribes.
The IHS enrollment shall be in accordance with the instructions provided for all
DMEPOS suppliers on the Form CMS-855S, except for the following clarifications.
• Facilities operated by the IHS, including pharmacies are considered a Federal
government organization. An Area Director of the IHS must sign the §15
Certification Statement of the Form CMS-855S, be listed in §6 of the form and
sign the letter required by §5 of the form which attests that the IHS will be legally
and financially responsible in the event that there is any outstanding debt owed to
CMS.
• Facilities, including pharmacies that are tribally operated are considered tribal
organizations. The §15 Certification Statement of the Form CMS-855S must be
signed by a tribal official who meets the definition of an authorized official in
accordance with the page 2 definitions shown on the Form CMS-855S. The same
authorized official must be listed in §6 of the Form CMS-855S and must sign the
letter required by §5 of the form which attests that the tribe will be legally and
financially responsible in the event that there is any outstanding debt owed to
CMS.
The CMS shall provide the NSC with a list of facilities of the IHS which distinguishes
between IHS operated and tribally operated. On the list the NSC shall use the column
entitled, “FAC OPERATED BY”, for this purpose.
Chapter 10 of Pub. 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual contains additional
information on the Form CMS-855S.
NOTE: Drugs furnished by tribally owned and operated facilities, including pharmacies
that are covered under Medicare Parts A and B will continue to be covered and paid
under the Medicare fee for service programs. Facilities shall continue to bill their A/B
MAC (A), A/B MAC (B) and DME MAC for these drugs after the implementation of
Medicare Part D.