Bulletins sent out over the last week by multiple DME MACS are urging providers to start preparing now for round 2 of Medicare’s competitive bidding program.

The bulletins pointed out that currently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is engaging in a “pre-bidding supplier awareness program,” adding, “If you are a supplier interested in bidding, prepare now – don’t wait!”

The DME MACS are encouraging providers to make sure all contact information in their enrollment files at the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) is up to date before registering to bid. Names, Social Security Numbers and dates of birth for all authorized officials listed on the enrollment files, as well as the correspondence addresses, need to be current.

Enrollment information can be updated via CMS’ Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) or by using the July 11, 2011, version of the CMS-855S enrollment form.

The bulletins also reminded providers that bidders must have all required state licenses by the time they submit their bids.

“Before you submit a bid for a product category in a CBA (competitive bid area), you must have all required state licenses for that product category on file with the NSC,” the bulletins say. “Every location must be licensed in each state in which it provides services. If you have only one location and are bidding in a CBA that includes more than one state, you must have all required licenses for every state in that CBA. If you have more than one location and are bidding in a CBA that includes more than one state, your company must have all required licenses for the product category for every state in that CBA.”

Current versions of all required licenses must be in providers’ enrollment files at the NSC prior to bidding.

Suppliers must also be accredited “for all items in a product category in order to submit a bid for that product category,” the DME MACs added. “CMS cannot contract with suppliers that are not accredited by a CMS-approved accreditation organization.”

According to the current competitive bidding schedule for round 2, CMS plans to announce the bidding schedule in the fall, when suppliers who wish to participate will also be able to register and receive user IDs and passwords. Bidding is slated to start in the winter of 2012.