Are you prepared for an unannounced Medicare visit?  As you know, a site visit is always scheduled during the re-enrollment period with documentation requested and pictures taken by the inspector.  Anecdotal evidence from all regions of the country indicates that Medicare contractors are performing inspections that are not based on re-enrollment.  If you haven’t already seen Medicare, there is a high degree of probability they WILL be at your front door soon.
The inspection covers about six pages of questions. Sample forms and licenses are requested.
This is what was asked, witnessed or requested:

ASKED:
1) Are you Accredited and for how long?
2) How many locations do you have?
3) Can you tell me the areas of service you cover?
4) What is your title?
5) What is your core business?
6) What is your ethnic population mix?
7) How do you handle the non-english speaking census? (The suggested answer is: either with translators on staff or access to your local university language department, if there was no one in the family or friends that could translate, which normally there is.)

If you provide oxygen:
8a) What qualifications do your personnel have for the oxygen equipment?
8b) Do you have contract or full time respiratory therapists?

REQUESTED:

1. Any applicable DME License; Sales Tax Certificate;  Occupational License, Oxygen License(s) Make sure you have moved these from your back room to an area where the general public can see them (front entrance or retail area). The licenses and certificates must be displayed in an area accessible to customers and patients.
2. Complaint/Incident Policy and Complaint/Incident Form
3. Patient Guides for products you provide written in English and any other language that is predominantly in the community you serve.  (Links to percentage response from #6 above) If you don’t have the forms, keep your numbers low.
4. New Equipment and Used Equipment Warranty Statement and a form if available.
5. Rent/Purchase Letter for patients still under that criteria    
6. Rent/Purchase Letter that meets new Criteria (13 months /36 months). Even though officials at Medicare state that there is no letter required to advise the beneficiary that the rented equipment will be purchased after 13th month, the inspector requested this.  Try to have these in both English and Spanish.
7. Copies of General Liability & Professional Liability Insurance coverage. The traditional Insurance Certificate Information is no longer accepted. Inspectors seem to be requesting copies of the " Policy Declaration Pages".
8. Phone Numbers of Insurance Companies, not your Agent.

WITNESSED:  Building Sign, Front Door Hours posting, Handicap Space Access, Bathroom Access for wheelchair, Active File Records Area, Dead File Records Area, Inve