Re: Surety Bond

Re: Surety Bond

Don Foley

9/9/2009

Jim,
 
I would be very cautious about coming to any conclusions about this. We've
been told by CMS that if you provide diabetic shoes you 'probably' negate
the exemption, and worse, if you make the wrong decision as regards to this
bond and Medicare determines you are out of compliance, your Medicare number
will be suspended for 12 months and you will essentially be shut out of the
program.
 
I suggest that people call CMS or the National Supplier Clearinghouse
directly if they are uncertain, because the penalty for being wrong is
brutal.
 
Thanks,
 
Don Foley
Cailor Fleming
800.796.8495
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On
Behalf Of Jim DeWees
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 9:17 AM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] Surety Bond
 
Last Friday (just before the holiday weekend), I got a letter in the mail
from Palmetton GBA regarding surety bonds and accreditation. In it was a
grid with Supplier Type, Accreditation and Surety Bond check boxes. For O&P
facilities they have listed Ys in both boxes for Surety Bonds and also
Accreditation.
 
 
 
At first glance, you would think that when there is a Y in the box, that
it means that it IS required. But, then reading it closer, and the header
at the top, it says that a Y means that it is exempt.
 
 
 
So, just so nobody gets confused and spends unecessary money on anything,
according to this paper, O&P facilities that only bill for O&P and supplies,
and who make custom O&P devices, are exempt from both accreditation and also
surety bonds.
 
 
 
The reason I am sharing this is because I have gotten 3 phone calls from
friends/colleagues asking me what I thought about this letter, and making
sure they are understanding it correctly.
 
 
 
Basically, this letter is a great form of double-negativity.....a Y means
that yes, you do NOT need to have a surety bond.....instead of a simple N,
which means that no, you do not need a surety bond.
 
 
 
Remember that Palmetto GBA is the contracted company by Medicare/CMS to
review and assign medicare provider ID numbers.
 
 
 
Thanks,
 
 
 
Jim DeWees, CP
 
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