CMS Competitive Acquisition Program Vendor Bidding Process Suspended

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has suspended the vendor bidding process for the Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) established by the Medicare Final Interim Rule announced June 27, 2005, in a CMS news release. Despite the suspension, CMS will further review comments regarding the CAP, and said, “after we are able to analyze the comments and determine how we can best improve the efficiency and attractiveness of the CAP, we anticipate publishing a final rule in late 2005.” Once the final version is published and vendors have been selected, CMS will establish an election period in which doctors will have the opportunity to voluntarily enroll with a specific vendor. CMS expects physicians will be able to obtain drugs through CAP by July 2006.