NABP DMEPOS Pharmacy Accreditation — Frequently Asked Questions
Questions pharmacies commonly ask about NABP DMEPOS Pharmacy Accreditation, CMS requirements, and the 2026 shift to annual renewal. For situation-specific guidance, schedule a free discovery session.
What is NABP DMEPOS Pharmacy Accreditation?
NABP DMEPOS Pharmacy Accreditation is a CMS-approved accreditation for pharmacies that supply durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) to Medicare beneficiaries and bill those items under Medicare Part B. Without accreditation from a CMS-approved organization, a pharmacy cannot bill Medicare Part B for any DMEPOS items.
Is DMEPOS accreditation required for all pharmacies?
No — it is required only for pharmacies that bill Medicare Part B for DMEPOS items. Pharmacies that dispense DMEPOS items but bill only Medicaid, commercial insurance, or cash-pay patients are not federally required to hold this accreditation. However, some state Medicaid programs and commercial payers have adopted analogous requirements. IHS can assess your specific payer mix.
How long is DMEPOS Pharmacy Accreditation valid starting in 2026?
Effective January 1, 2026, CMS changed DMEPOS Pharmacy Accreditation to a 1-year term, replacing the previous 3-year cycle. Pharmacies must now renew accreditation annually with documentation submission, compliance review, and accreditation fee payment. IHS helps pharmacies build continuous compliance programs to make annual renewal manageable.
What are the CMS DMEPOS Quality Standards?
The CMS DMEPOS Quality Standards cover seven core areas: business operations, financial management, products and services, human resources, physical environment, patient/beneficiary rights, and product-specific standards. NABP's accreditation standards incorporate these CMS standards with pharmacy-specific requirements layered on top.
What are the 30 Medicare DMEPOS Supplier Standards?
CMS maintains 30 Medicare DMEPOS Supplier Standards that all suppliers must comply with to hold a Medicare supplier number. These cover requirements such as maintaining a physical business location, keeping hours of operation, maintaining liability insurance, not paying kickbacks, and properly documenting medical necessity. Failure to comply can result in loss of Medicare billing privileges independently of accreditation status.
Does my pharmacy need a National Provider Identifier (NPI) and Medicare supplier number?
Yes. To bill Medicare Part B for DMEPOS, your pharmacy must have an NPI and be enrolled in Medicare as a DMEPOS supplier with a Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN) from the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC). Accreditation is a prerequisite for NSC enrollment in most cases. IHS advises on the sequencing of accreditation and Medicare enrollment steps.
What DMEPOS product categories can a pharmacy bill under Medicare Part B?
Common categories include diabetic supplies, nebulizers and respiratory medications, walkers and canes, blood pressure monitors, ostomy supplies, urological supplies, and surgical dressings. Some categories — such as power wheelchairs, complex rehabilitative technology, and custom orthotics/prosthetics — have additional requirements. IHS evaluates your specific product mix as part of every engagement.
What is an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN)?
An ABN is a written notice provided to a Medicare beneficiary before furnishing an item or service that Medicare may not cover. Proper ABN use protects the beneficiary's right to make an informed choice and protects your pharmacy from recoupment. DMEPOS Pharmacy Accreditation requires documented ABN policies and procedures.
Does the competitive bidding area (CBA) program affect accreditation?
Accreditation is a prerequisite for bidding in CMS's DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program, and maintaining accreditation is required to keep bid contracts. However, accreditation alone does not grant the right to supply competitively bid items — that requires a separate bid award. IHS advises clients operating in CBA markets on both accreditation and competitive bidding requirements.
Can a pharmacy lose Medicare billing privileges if accreditation lapses?
Yes. Loss of accreditation — including through non-renewal under the new annual cycle — results in immediate loss of Medicare Part B billing privileges for DMEPOS items. CMS provides no grace period. Re-accreditation and re-enrollment can take months. IHS strongly recommends treating annual renewal as a mission-critical calendar event.
How does IHS help pharmacies achieve DMEPOS Pharmacy Accreditation?
IHS provides gap assessment against CMS Quality Standards and NABP pharmacy criteria, documentation development, Medicare supplier standards compliance review, pre-accreditation review, and application preparation. For the 2026 annual cycle, IHS also designs continuous compliance programs. Thomas G. Goddard, JD, PhD — IHS's principal consultant and former Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of URAC — leads every engagement.
Questions About Your Specific Situation?
Schedule a Free Discovery Session with IHS to discuss your pharmacy's DMEPOS accreditation needs.