On January 25, 2008, CMS published a proposed rule to clarify and add to the current supplier standards for durable medical equipment, prosthetic, and orthotics supplies (?DMEPOS?) suppliers. Although acknowledging other measures to prevent fraud and abuse related to the provision of Medicare covered DMEPOS items (such as the competitive bidding program, increased funding for site visits to ensure compliance, the proposed rule to require the posting of a surety bond), CMS views the proposed revisions and additions to the supplier standards as the mechanism to arm CMS with the ?needed authority to deny or revoke billing privileges to those DMEPOS suppliers that pose a significant risk to the program.?

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