CMS Removes BOC from List of CMS-Approved Accreditation Organizations
Effective Date: December 2, 2025
CMS has officially withdrawn the Board of Certification/Accreditation International (BOC) as an approved accreditation organization for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) under Medicare. As of December 2, 2025, BOC no longer has authority to perform:
- Reaccreditation of existing suppliers
- Surveys or accreditation of new locations or product categories
- Any functions as a CMS-approved DMEPOS accrediting body
Required Action:
If your organization is currently accredited through BOC or is in the process of accreditation, you must transition to one of the remaining CMS-approved DMEPOS accreditation organizations to avoid compliance and Medicare billing disruptions. The updated list of CMS-approved accrediting bodies is available on the CMS site.
Important Accreditation Change:
CMS’s final rule also takes effect January 1, 2026, requiring annual surveys and re-accreditation for all DMEPOS suppliers, rather than every three years — a separate but related compliance obligation.
Annual Accreditation Surveys for DMEPOS Suppliers
DMEPOS suppliers are required to be accredited by a CMS-approved accrediting
organization to enroll in and bill Medicare. The purpose of accreditation is to confirm, typically
through an on-site survey of the supplier, that the supplier meets the DMEPOS quality standards.
Regulations promulgating our accreditation requirements were enacted in 2006 but have not been
updated since then. We are concerned there may be instances where: (1) AOs are accrediting
DMEPOS suppliers that do not meet the quality standards; and (2) DMEPOS suppliers are
falling out of compliance with the quality standards (sometimes for extended periods) after
becoming accredited. To enhance our ability to ensure that AOs are performing DMEPOS
accreditation functions effectively and thoroughly, including verifying suppliers’ compliance
with the quality standards, we are finalizing proposals that add a number of provisions to our
DMEPOS accreditation regulations. Among our finalized provisions are as follows:
● Requiring DMEPOS suppliers to be surveyed and reaccredited every year (as opposed
to the current 3-year cycle).
● Reducing inconsistencies among AOs in how they oversee DMEPOS suppliers.
● Requiring AOs to furnish more detailed information to CMS when applying or
reapplying for approval to become or remain a DMEPOS AO.
● Facilitating greater CMS oversight of the DMEPOS AOs.
We believe these and other changes to the DMEPOS accreditation process would help
ensure that unqualified DMEPOS suppliers are not accredited and do not, in turn, receive
Medicare payments.
DMEPOS Competitive Bidding 2026
CMS has issued updates as part of the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System Final Rule, which includes provisions for the next round of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program (CBP). Here is your current timeline of key milestones:
December 2025
- CMS begins pre-bidding supplier awareness and education to ensure readiness for the next competitive bidding cycle.
Late Spring / Early Summer 2026
- CMS will announce specific dates for bidder registration and bidding activity.
- CMS will publish the lead items and product categories included in the bidding cycle.
- Formal bidder education programs are scheduled to begin.
Late Summer / Early Fall 2026
- Bidder registration period opens for suppliers to obtain user IDs/passwords.
- Bid window opens for bid submissions.
Late Summer / Early Fall 2027
- Contracts awarded and single payment amounts (SPAs) announced.
- Beneficiary education on the new competitive bidding program begins.
No Later Than January 1, 2028
- Next round of competitive bidding goes into effect.
- A six-month beneficiary transition window begins, allowing beneficiaries to select and switch to contract suppliers.
Product Categories Under Consideration (tentative):
CMS’s fact sheet lists potential inclusion of items such as Class II continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, urological supplies, ostomy supplies, and certain off-the-shelf bracing categories — though definitive product scopes will be announced later in 2026.