POE AG Meeting Minutes - January 22, 2026 - JD DME

Attendees

Members: Anna Markiewicz; Barb Stockert; Carol Lemihan; Carolyn Koster; Crissy Hill; Dawn Jorgensen; Februari Lester; Holli Ling; Jamie Tharp; Jan Palmer; Jason Freeman; Jeannette Leon; Kim Brummett; Kimberly Hanson; Kristine Cram; Lisa Gannon; Maria D Sanchez; Maria Koehnlein; Marsha Lawrence; Michelle Wullstein; Mindie Batiste; Pamela Fritz; Randy Stevens; Rosa Gomez; Steve Manos; Tanya Ward; Tugba Koca; Wayne Bradberry; William Noyes; Yvette Nugent; Yvonne Weiler

Noridian: Amber Mertz; Brenda Swancy; Tracy Schutt

POEAG Mission and Goals

Mission

To determine the best methods of providing quality education and training to our supplier community.

Goals

• The primary function of POEAG is to help the MAC create, implement, and review provider education strategies and efforts.
• POEAG provides input and feedback on training topics, provider education materials, and dates and locations of provider education workshops and events.
• POEAG also identifies salient supplier education issues and recommends effective ways to disseminate information to all appropriate suppliers and their staff.
• POEAG is a provider education consultant resource but not an approval or sanctioning authority.
• CMS Internet Only Manual (IOM), Publication 100-09, Chapter 6

Suggestions from POE Advisory Members

• Aligning with IOM direction
• Suggestions and feedback encouraged
• For policy specific questions:
  • Ask the Contractor Meeting (ACM) - February 25, 2026
  • Policy specific webinars

Standing Items

• Collaborative MAC education
  • A/B DME Workgroup - Documentation Requirements webinar
    • March 18, 2025
  • CERT Task Force webinar
    • TBD

Follow-up from Previous Meeting - General

• Supplier complaints due to differences between CGS/Noridian processes
  • Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Device Supplies
    • Noridian does not show these on the same or similar chart, but CGS does. This is very helpful for suppliers, is Noridian able to add these?
      • The same or similar list is not all inclusive. While every effort is made to keep the list current, there may be relationships that may trigger a denial for items that are not listed. Noridian will take this back to the appropriate teams for discussion.

Joint DME MAC Publications posted at Policies > Medical Director Articles > 2025

• Posted October 2, 2025 - Wheelchair Seating LCD and PA revision
• Posted October 9, 2025 - LCD and PA revisions
  • External Breast Prostheses
  • Oral Anticancer Drugs
  • Oral Antiemetic Drugs
  • Respiratory Assist Devices
• Posted October 23, 2025 - LCD and PA revisions
  • Lower Limb Prostheses
  • Power Mobility Devices
• Posted October 30, 2025 - LCD and PA revisions
  • Speech Generating Devices
  • Walkers
  • Wheelchair Options/Accessories
• Posted November 13, 2025 - Urological Supplies LCD and PA revisions
• Posted December 11, 2025
  • External Infusion Pumps Final LCD and Response to Comments (RTC)
  • Knee Orthoses - Final LCD and RTC Article Published
  • Warranty, Reasonable and Minimum Useful Lifetime Article Revision
• Posted December 12, 2025 - Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Hearing/Federal District Court Review - 2026 Dollar Amount in Controversy

New Items

General

• Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) added to Respiratory Assist Devices (RADs) policy
  • Noridian continues to work with CMS and CGS and once finalized, education will be provided
• Possible virtual events
  • MEDTRADE - March 2-4
  • Power Symposium - March 10
• Ask the Contractor Meeting (ACM)
  • February 25, 2026
  • General - all topics
  • NMP allows supplier-issued check lookup
    • Access through NMP financial area
    • Look up how check was applied
    • Started December 18, 2025

DME

• Home-based NPPV to Treat Chronic Respiratory Failure Due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• MLN Matters MM14117
• Implementation date October 22, 2025
• RADs covered with or without backup rate feature
• Home Mechanical Ventilator (HMV) covered in home to deliver high-intensity noninvasive ventilation
• To treat chronic respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Open Discussion/Additional Member Comments/Suggestion

• Does Noridian have any plans for education targeting the expiration of the telehealth waiver and the impact to DMEPOS suppliers concerning compliant medical records?
  • Telehealth webpage
    • Telehealth services extended through January 30, 2026
    • Noridian Medicare website > Browse by Topic > Documentation > Telehealth
• External Infusion Pump (EIP) updated coverage for Blincyto and Vyalev
  • Noridian is planning on scheduling a webinar.
• Is accreditation required to provide external electrical stimulation devices?
  • The National Provider Enrollment (NPE) should be able to assist.
• Are Advance Determination of Medicare Coverage (ADMC) decisions uploaded to NMP?
  • ADMC decisions are not available on the NMP at this time.
• A couple of weeks ago, I emailed the Supplier Contact Center a question regarding a Local Coverage Determination, but I haven't heard back.
  • Our written correspondence team has 45 days to respond.
• Suggestion for the NIPPV webinar yesterday: Our staff weren't able to see everyone else's questions and answers. Can these be published?
  • Thank you for the suggestion. Because specific questions cause confusion, we don't always respond to all. However, additional information will be posted to our website in the near future.

Upcoming Meeting

Next Meeting: April 15, 2026