A -- End Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System

Medicare Outpatient End Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System. Under FAR 6.302-1(2), The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to award a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract effective September 11, 2006, to the Regents of the University of Michigan, Division of Research and Development and Administration, Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center, 503 Thompson St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109. This will be a 12 month contract with 4 option years. The Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, materials, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform the requirements. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is responsible for the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS). Under the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), Section 623 of the law contained a number of ESRD related provisions that implement section 1881(b) of the Act. Section 623(d)(1) required that a basic case mix adjusted composite rate be established reflecting a limited number of patient characteristics (case mix adjustments), adjustments that reflected differences in payment for separately billed drugs, revised pricing based on acquisition costs and geographic and budget neutrality adjustment factors. In addition to changes in the existing composite rate, section 623(f) required a report to Congress that details the elements and features for the design of a fully bundled ESRD PPS. The services required for this project focus on the continuance of updating, using the most recent CMS administrative data, the analytic files for all available hospital based and freestanding ESRD facilities. It also focuses on the addition of two newly collected variables: height and weight, and expansion reporting of diagnostic conditions. This updated data system will be used for refinement and to develop and assess the impact of the basic case mix adjusted ESRD PPS. In addition, this data base, previous analysis, modeling and assessments will be built upon to support CMS in the development of a fully bundled case mix adjusted PPS for the ESRD PPS. These analyses, models and reports will be used to support the Centers for Medicare Management's efforts to prepare a Report to Congress that will detail the design, present alternative and implications for a fully bundled ESRD PPS. For the performance of work requirements for these systems the following skills must be demonstrated: (1) analysis, research, modeling, simulation, impact analysis and manipulation of large data bases; (2) the overall skill of contextual analysis, i.e. the ability to analyze information using accepted research methodologies to respond to the context (timing, previous research and special studies and current strategic environment) for the project; (3) ability to create large data CMS data bases, and analyze these using acceptable statistical and research related models and methods; (4) personnel having a number of available skills that include: statisticians (mathematical and survey statisticians), economists, research methodologists, programmers, analysts, system analysts, and individuals with clinical skills, e.g. nephrologists with both a treatment and comobidity focus; (4) previous work with prospective payment systems, including technical, as well as clinical (e.g. comorbid conditions) professionals; (5) assessment of the current context, analyze and synthesize research needs, and develop analytic plans to address PPS systems in general, but specifically the ESRD PPS; (6) implementation of this plan in a timely, valid and reliable manner using appropriate statistical and research methods and techniques; (7) the ability to communicate, verbally and in writing; (8) presentation of analysis of large data sets, technical analysis, clinical findings, and the preparation of final reports and special studies of a quality suitable for publication is essential; (9) assurance that methods, findings and recommendations are available to CMS and can be made available to industry, other governmental agencies and interested groups. The Government will consider interest expressed within 15 calendar days of publication of notice. Written requests should be submitted to Gina Romano, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Acquisition and Grants Management, 7500 Security Boulevard, C2-21-15, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. E-mail address: Gina.Romano@cms.hhs.gov. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.