SuretyBonds.com has developed this DMEPOS Medicare Surety Bond guide to walk durable medical equipment suppliers through the DMEPOS surety bond application process. For more information on federal regulations and full CMS DMEPOS licensing requirements, please review our guide on How to Navigate the DMEPOS Supplier Accreditation Process.
In 2009 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created a surety bond requirement to help limit medical billing fraud by health care personnel. Most suppliers for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) cannot become accredited to bill Medicare until they file their required surety bond. Suppliers should follow all standards set by 42 CFR §424.57, which includes purchasing a minimum $50,000 Medicare bond.
What is a DMEPOS Medicare surety bond?
DME supplier surety bonds ensure that companies that bill Medicare do so according to regulations and do not submit fraudulent reimbursement requests to CMS. These surety bonds are issued for 1-year-terms that must be renewed annually as long as the company continues to bill Medicare. If the principal would like to cancel the DMEPOS bond before the term expires, they must provide the CMS contractor with 30 days’ written notice.
Who needs a DMEPOS Medicare bond?
With few exceptions, DMEPOS suppliers who provide durable medical equipment to Medicare patients in the United States almost always need to file a surety bond in the amount of $50,000 before their DMEPOS accreditation can be finalized for Medicare services billing. The surety bond requirement applies to both new and existing DMEPOS suppliers alike.
What are the application requirements to get a DMEPOS Medicare program bond?
When applying for a Medicare bond, you’ll need to provide the following information.
- Type of DMEPOS equipment sold
- Tax identification number
- Address of DMEPOS supplier
- Prior year annual revenue
- Years of experience billing Medicare
- Annual Medicare receipts
If available, additional requirements might include providing your National Provider Identifier (NPI) number, Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN), and how many locations you operate.
How do I apply for a DMEPOS Medicare Program supplier surety bond?
You can submit a DMEPOS surety bond application online 24/7 or call 1(800)308-4358 to speak with a surety expert about your bonding needs.
How much does a DMEPOS surety bond cost?
DMEPOS Medicare Program Bond applications require underwriting to determine the surety bond cost. Premiums start at just $250 annually. The surety bond cost could be higher based on the insurance company’s underwriting review of the applicant.
Additional notes about Medicare surety bond coverage and costs.
- DMEPOS suppliers must maintain $50,000 of Medicare bond coverage for each National Provider Identifier (NPI) they operate. Therefore, the more locations they operate, the more surety bond coverage they will need, which could result in a higher bond amount than the $50,000 standard minimum.
- DMEPOS suppliers must also provide additional Medicare bond amount coverage if any adverse legal action has been taken against the company in the 10 years prior to enrolling in the program. Such actions include losing Medicare billing privileges, suspension or revocation of a license/accreditation, a felony conviction, and exclusion from a federal or state healthcare program
What is the difference between the DMEPOS Medicare Program bond and DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Bond?
A separate surety bond requirement exists for DMEPOS competitive bidding program registration.
While DMEPOS Medicare program bonds help prevent fraudulent billing, DMEPOS competitive bidding program bonds help ensure providers set reasonable payment rates for DMEPOS items. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) established the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Bond requirement.
Even though the bond amount for DMEPOS competitive bidding program bond is also $50,000, bond premiums start at $475 annually rather than the minimum $250 required for the standard DMEPOS Medicare program bond.
Who can I talk to about my DMEPOS surety bond?
If you’re a DMEPOS provider or supplier seeking Medicare accreditation, experts at SuretyBonds.com have years of experience providing quick and easy surety bond service for Medicare providers nationwide. You can apply for your DMEPOS surety bond online 24/7 or call 1(800)308-4358 if you have additional questions at this time.