It was good-bye to SADMERC — the Statistical Analysis Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier — and hello to yet another new federal acronym on Aug. 18, as Noridian Administrative Services LLC took over as the new Pricing, Data Analysis & Coding (PDAC) contractor for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
On the new PDAC Web site (www.dmepdac.com), Noridian listed the following as its responsibilities:
•    Provide data analysis support to CMS’s DME Program Safeguard Contractors (PSCs).
•    Guide manufacturers and suppliers on the proper use of the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) through product reviews and decisions.
•    Conduct national pricing functions for DMEPOS services.
• Assist CMS with DMEPOS fee schedules.
The Noridian Web site added that durable medical equipment items that have already received “a coding verification letter from the SADMERC regarding a HCPCS determination do not have to be re-reviewed by the PDAC. Any and all correspondence previously received from the SADMERC remains valid.”
Noridian, which is based in Fargo, N.D., will operate from 8:30 a.m. till 4 p.m. Central time. The contact center phone number is (877) 735-1326. The mailing address for Noridian is Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding, P.O. Box 6757, Fargo ND 58108-6757.
Noridian began accepting product review forms for HCPCS coding on Aug. 18. Forms are now available on the PDAC Web site.