Indian Health Services (IHS) Facilities’ Enrollment as DMEPOS

10.2.5.4 – Indian Health Services (IHS) Facilities’ Enrollment as DMEPOS Suppliers (Rev. 11682; Issued: 11-04-2022; Effective:1 2-05-2022; Implementation:12-05-2022) A. Background The contractor shall enroll IHS facilities as DMEPOS suppliers in accordance with: (a) the general enrollment procedures cited in chapter 10; (b) the statement of work contained in the contractor’s contract with Medicare; and (c) the special procedures cited in this section. For enrollment purposes, Medicare recognizes two types of IHS facilities: (1) facilities wholly owned and operated by the HIS; and (2) facilities owned by the IHS but tribally operated or totally owned and operated by a tribe. CMS will provide the contractor with a list of IHS facilities that distinguishes between these two types. On the list, the contractor shall use the column entitled, “FAC OPERATED BY”, for this purpose. B. Enrollment The supplier shall complete the Form CMS-855S in accordance with the instructions shown therein. Facilities that are: • Totally owned and operated by the IHS are considered governmental organizations. An Area Director of the IHS must sign Section 15 of the Form CMS–855S, be listed in Section 9 of the form, and sign the letter required under Section 8 of the form that attests that the IHS will be legally and financially responsible in the event there is any outstanding debt owed to CMS. • Tribally operated are considered tribal organizations. Section 15 of the Form CMS–855S must be signed by a tribal official who meets the definition of an “authorized official” under 42 CFR § 424.502. The individual must also be listed in Section 9 of the form and must sign the letter required under Section 8 of the form that attests that the tribe will be legally and financially responsible in the event there is any outstanding debt owed to CMS. C. Supplier Standards, Exceptions, and Site Visits All IHS facilities, whether operated by the IHS or a tribe: 1. Shall meet all required standards, with the exception of the comprehensive liability insurance requirements under 42 CFR § 424.57(c)(10). 2. Need not meet the requirement to provide state licenses for their facility/business. For example, if the 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 licensure is not required. However, if it provides a DMEPOS item that requires a licensed professional in order to properly provide the item, it shall provide a copy of the professional license. The licensed professional can be licensed in any state or have a federal license (e.g., a pharmacy does not need a pharmacy license but shall have a licensed pharmacist). 3. Shall, like all other DMEPOS suppliers, undergo site visits in accordance with section 10.6.20(A) and 10.6.20(B) of this chapter. (This includes all hospitals and pharmacies enrolling as DMEPOS suppliers.) D. Provider Education for IHS Facilities The contractor shall ensure that its web site includes the information contained in this section 10.2.5.4) that is specific to enrollment of IHS facilities (whether operated by the IHS or a tribe). E. Specialty Codes The contractor shall apply the specialty code A9 (IHS) to all IHS enrollments (whether operated by the IHS or a tribe). However, the specialty code A9/A0 shall be applied to facilities that are IHS/tribal hospitals. Other specialty codes should be applied as applicable (e.g., pharmacies).