DIABETIC SHOES - SURETY BONDS
08/14/2009 12:27 PM by Ortho Duck
BREAKING NEWS recent clarification from CMS regarding diabetic shoes in relation to the surety bond. According to CMS staff, if you provide a Medicare patient with diabetic shoes that are not related to an orthotic or prosthetic device, the shoes are no longer considered "supplies".
This means that if you provide stand alone diabetic shoes, 1) they would no longer fall under the surety bond exemption for supplies and 2) your facility would now be providing services other than orthotics, prosthetics or supplies. This means that you would no longer qualify for the surety bond exemption and must therefore meet the October 2, 2009 deadline for obtaining a bond.
However, if the only time that you provide diabetic shoes is in conjunction with an orthotic or prosthetic device, the shoes would still be considered "supplies" and you could maintain your surety bond exemption, as long as you meet the other necessary.
Click here to Read the FAQ and Question 38 on the NSC Web site.