On Sept. 9 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will once again delay implementation of the required face-to-face encounters for certain durable medical equipment (DME). Originally scheduled for July 2013 implementation, the new requirement has been delayed until an unspecified date in 2014. In its delay announcement, CMS noted concerns that some suppliers and physicians needed more time to implement the operational protocols required for successful compliance with the new rule. In past editions of the Weekly Update, the AASM has provided members with information about the face-to-face encounter requirements. The AASM will continue to update members as new information about the implementation date is made available.
