FACT : A DME supply number is NOT required to prescribe DME products and receive reimbursements from private insurers. A DME supply number is only required to receive reimbursements from Medicare for prescribed DME products.

To Obtain Your DME Supplier Number:

You must fill out and submit form CMS 855S from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. You must also provide appropriate supporting documents to Palmetto GBA. Palmetto GBA is the National Supplier Clearinghouse for the Medicare program and processes all applications. To reach the Clearinghouse please call (866) 238-9652, their mailing address is 2300 Springdale Drive, Bldg. 1 Camden, SC 29020.

You may download the form here [PDF].

Your application should be processed within sixty days. The initial enrollment lasts for three years at which point you will be required to re-enroll. In addition, all suppliers will receive a site visit from a Medicare Inspector prior to receiving a supplier number. At the time of re-enrollment you will be required to fill out another CMS 855S and another site visit will be performed.