Medicare supplier standards

Every company that supplies durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) to Medicare patients must meet these standards to keep its Medicare billing privileges. We give a copy to every patient who receives a Medicare-covered item.

The 30 standards, in plain language

1. Follow all federal and state licensing and regulatory requirements.
2. Give Medicare complete and accurate enrollment information, and report changes within 30 days.
3. Have an authorized person with signing authority sign the Medicare enrollment application.
4. Fill orders from our own inventory or through contracts, and never work with companies excluded from federal health programs.
5. Tell patients they may rent or buy inexpensive or routinely purchased equipment, and explain the purchase option for capped rental equipment.
6. Tell patients about warranty coverage, honor all warranties under state law, and repair or replace items under warranty at no charge.
7. Keep a staffed, accessible store of at least 200 square feet, with posted hours, a visible sign and space to keep records.
8. Allow Medicare or its agents to inspect our location.
9. Keep a main business phone number listed under our business name, and do not rely only on an answering machine, answering service, beeper or cell phone during business hours.
10. Carry at least $300,000 in liability insurance covering our business, customers and employees.
11. Never call or contact Medicare patients directly to sell them items they did not ask for.
12. Deliver items, show patients how to use them, and keep proof of delivery and instruction.
13. Answer patient questions and complaints, and keep a record of those contacts.
14. Maintain and repair rented Medicare items, or replace them, at no charge.
15. Accept returns of items that are below standard or not right for the patient.
16. Give a copy of these standards to every patient who receives a Medicare-covered item.
17. Disclose anyone who owns, has a financial interest in, or controls the business.
18. Never transfer or sell our Medicare supplier number to anyone else.
19. Have a process for resolving complaints, and keep complaint records at our store.
20. Record the patient's name and contact details, a summary of each complaint and the actions taken.
21. Give Medicare any information it requires under federal law.
22. Be accredited by a Medicare-approved accreditation organization for every product we bill.
23. Notify our accreditation organization when we open a new location.
24. Make sure every location meets the quality standards and is separately accredited.
25. Disclose every product and service we supply when we enroll, including new products.
26. Meet Medicare's surety bond requirements.
27. Get oxygen only from a state-licensed oxygen supplier.
28. Keep ordering and referral records as Medicare requires.
29. Do not share a practice location with another Medicare provider or supplier.
30. Be open to the public at least 30 hours a week.

This is a plain-language summary. The full standards are in federal regulation 42 CFR 424.57(c). Ask us for a printed copy.

Questions or concerns

If you have a question or a problem with an item or our service, call us at (917) 300-2692 or come to the store at 141-04 Rockaway Blvd, Suite 1F, Jamaica, NY 11436. We write down every concern and work to resolve it.

If you have Medicare, you can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or ask us for our accreditation organization's contact information.

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