The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is soliciting nominations for individuals to serve on the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee (PAOC) that advises CMS on various issues relating to the competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).

The PAOC was initially established in 2004, as required by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), to advise CMS on the design and implementation of a competitive bidding program for DMEPOS that would build on the successes of two pilot projects that had shown that competitive bidding could reduce prices of DMEPOS, without adversely affecting beneficiary access or compromising quality.

Because the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) delayed implementation of and made certain changes to the competitive bidding program, and extended the PAOC for two years through December 31, 2011, CMS is ending the term of service for current PAOC members.

The PAOC will be comprised of 10 and 12 members from the following broad categories:

CMS may consider nominees for additional categories if it finds that their expertise will help to ensure the successful implementation of the program nominations are due to CMS by November 3, 2008. For more information, please see the CMS Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/dme.asp .

To read the CMS press release issued on October 1, 2008, click here http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp .