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NCPA urges suspension of DMEPOS accreditation requirement

9/15/2009

ALEXANDRIA, Va. Pharmacies should not have to obtain additional federal accreditation in order to sell durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies, an organization representing independent pharmacies wrote in a letter to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The National Community Pharmacists Association wrote to CMS acting administrator Charlene Frizzera, urging a suspension of the Medicare Part B DMEPOS acceditation requirement, scheduled to take effect Oct. 1.

“Pharmacies, already regulated and licensed by the states, should not have to undergo this time-consuming, expensive and redundant process in order to continue selling DMEPOS to their patients, such as diabetes testing strips,” an NCPA statement read.

The House and Senate have inserted language into healthcare reform bills exempting pharmacists from the requirement, but the NCPA said there was “virtually no chance” either would pass their respective bills, reconcile them, vote on them for final passage and then have the signed into law with two and a half weeks between now and the deadline. For that reason, the organization said, the CMS should use its authority to suspend the deadline.

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