Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Tell Your Side of the Story: AAHomecare will send your comments directly to Congressman Renacci
Fresh off his appearance at the AAHomecare Washington Legislative Conference, Congressman Jim Rencacci (R-Ohio), a former DME provider who lost his bid in the Round One Rebid, is seeking direct feedback from suppliers on the bidding and re-review process for a roundtable he is hosting in Ohio on June 5, 2014.
Take this brief survey and AAHomecare will send your comments directly to the Congressman. This is your chance to tell your side of the story. Be sure to complete the survey before June 2, 2014.
AAHomecare Meets with CMS
On Thursday, May 15, 2014 at the CMS headquarters in Baltimore,
AAHomecare staff members met with CMS officials to discuss beneficiary
problems with access to power mobility repair.
Kim Brummett, vice president of regulatory affairs and Peter Rankin, manager, government affairs, met with a number of CMS staff including Joel Kaiser, director of the DMEPOS Policy Division of the Chronic Care Policy Group and Tangita Daramola, competitive acquisition ombudsman at CMS.
With Chronic Care Policy Group Director Laurence Wilson speaking at the Washington Legislative Conference just two weeks ago, staff were ready to engage in a healthy debate.
On a positive note, documentation issues will be addressed directly with the Office of Financial Management and Latesha Walker. Moving forward, Kaiser’s group asked the team to assemble information on cost versus SPA rates for repair items to use for additional discussion.
AAHomecare believes that the best policies and programs are developed through collaborative efforts from DME stakeholders and regulatory/legislative authorities. This is what makes the system work. AAHomecare will continue to call out problems, craft solutions and work to build consensus wherever we can, whether it is at CMS or in Congress.
Kim Brummett, vice president of regulatory affairs and Peter Rankin, manager, government affairs, met with a number of CMS staff including Joel Kaiser, director of the DMEPOS Policy Division of the Chronic Care Policy Group and Tangita Daramola, competitive acquisition ombudsman at CMS.
With Chronic Care Policy Group Director Laurence Wilson speaking at the Washington Legislative Conference just two weeks ago, staff were ready to engage in a healthy debate.
On a positive note, documentation issues will be addressed directly with the Office of Financial Management and Latesha Walker. Moving forward, Kaiser’s group asked the team to assemble information on cost versus SPA rates for repair items to use for additional discussion.
AAHomecare believes that the best policies and programs are developed through collaborative efforts from DME stakeholders and regulatory/legislative authorities. This is what makes the system work. AAHomecare will continue to call out problems, craft solutions and work to build consensus wherever we can, whether it is at CMS or in Congress.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Your Chance to Join the AAHomecare Board of Directors
Your Chance to Join the AAHomecare Board of Directors
Have you ever thought, "I wish AAHomecare would..."? Then you should think about joining the AAHomecare Board of Directors.
AAHomecare's Board of Directors is composed entirely of volunteers from broad cross-section of home medical equipment providers, manufacturers, and related member companies. The Board and its Executive Committee direct AAHomecare policy and meet three times each year to establish strategic guidance, set priorities, and evaluate progress. The next meeting will be at the Washington Legislative Conference, May 7-8, in Washington, DC.
This is your chance to join this influential group and help lead the HME industry. If you are willing and able to represent Association members like yourself, complete a nomination form and return it to Sue Mairena no later than close of business this April 8, 2014.
Have you ever thought, "I wish AAHomecare would..."? Then you should think about joining the AAHomecare Board of Directors.
AAHomecare's Board of Directors is composed entirely of volunteers from broad cross-section of home medical equipment providers, manufacturers, and related member companies. The Board and its Executive Committee direct AAHomecare policy and meet three times each year to establish strategic guidance, set priorities, and evaluate progress. The next meeting will be at the Washington Legislative Conference, May 7-8, in Washington, DC.
This is your chance to join this influential group and help lead the HME industry. If you are willing and able to represent Association members like yourself, complete a nomination form and return it to Sue Mairena no later than close of business this April 8, 2014.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
This Isn't What Medicare Was Supposed to Be
Carl A. Mulberry, president of Columbus Medical Equipment, in Columbus, Ohio, wrote to Congress about repair problems and cited the circumstances of one Medicare patient.
“I had a long time patient call me,” he wrote. “She was almost in tears because her hospital bed has needed repair for quite a long time.
The bed needs an accessory replaced; the foot motor and tube assembly that is part of the bidding program. She had called several contract suppliers to try to get help. She finally found one that charged her $60 to come to her home and identify what needs replacing.
When she did not hear back, she called them and was told that they were not able to find the parts for her bed. She has one of the most common beds in the homecare industry. She is now planning to buy the part from us and have a friend’s son install it for her.
Medicare successfully saved money on this case. And this is supposed to be a good thing? What’s the cost of the anxiety that this women was needlessly put through?”
Unfortunately, there are hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries across the country just like this patient. She was finally able to find a solution, but many are helpless and losing hope.
This isn’t what Medicare was supposed to be: Where is the safety net for the elderly and the disabled?
The above is an excerpt from the March 7, 2014, issue of DME Matters. Click on the below to read the full issue.
Medicare Bidding Program Creates Repair Nightmares for Patients (March 7, 2014)
“I had a long time patient call me,” he wrote. “She was almost in tears because her hospital bed has needed repair for quite a long time.
The bed needs an accessory replaced; the foot motor and tube assembly that is part of the bidding program. She had called several contract suppliers to try to get help. She finally found one that charged her $60 to come to her home and identify what needs replacing.
When she did not hear back, she called them and was told that they were not able to find the parts for her bed. She has one of the most common beds in the homecare industry. She is now planning to buy the part from us and have a friend’s son install it for her.
Medicare successfully saved money on this case. And this is supposed to be a good thing? What’s the cost of the anxiety that this women was needlessly put through?”
Unfortunately, there are hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries across the country just like this patient. She was finally able to find a solution, but many are helpless and losing hope.
This isn’t what Medicare was supposed to be: Where is the safety net for the elderly and the disabled?
The above is an excerpt from the March 7, 2014, issue of DME Matters. Click on the below to read the full issue.
Medicare Bidding Program Creates Repair Nightmares for Patients (March 7, 2014)
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