(a) Applicability. Except as specified in paragraph (b) of this section, this subpart applies to all suppliers that furnish the items defined in §414.402 to beneficiaries, including providers, physicians, treating practitioners, physical therapists, and occupational therapists that furnish such items under Medicare Part B.

(b) Exceptions.

(1) Physicians, treating practitioners, and hospitals may furnish certain types of competitively bid durable medical equipment without submitting a bid and being awarded a contract under this subpart, provided that all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) The items furnished are limited to crutches, canes, walkers, folding manual wheelchairs, blood glucose monitors, and infusion pumps that are DME, and off-the-shelf (OTS) orthotics.

(ii) The items are furnished by the physician or treating practitioner to his or her own patients as part of his or her professional service or by a hospital to its own patients during an admission or on the date of discharge.

(iii) The items are billed under a billing number assigned to the hospital, physician, the treating practitioner (if possible), or a group practice to which the physician or treating practitioner has reassigned the right to receive Medicare payment.

(2) A physical therapist in private practice (as defined in §410.60(c) of this chapter) or an occupational therapist in private practice (as defined in §410.59(c) of this chapter) may furnish competitively bid off-the-shelf orthotics without submitting a bid and being awarded a contract under this subpart, provided that the items are furnished only to the therapist's own patients as part of the physical or occupational therapy service.

(3) Payment for items furnished in accordance with paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section will be paid in accordance with §414.408(a).

[72 FR 18084, Apr. 10, 2007, as amended at 74 FR 2880, Jan. 16, 2009; 75 FR 73623, Nov. 29, 2010; 76 FR 70314, Nov. 10, 2011]