Take the DME Cost Analysis Survey--Build Data to Show CB Rates Are Unsustainable!

All suppliers encouraged to participate in this Cost Study which will include multiple categories under threat by competitive bidding.

Today a national survey opened for suppliers to provide their fixed and variable costs for furnishing the services associated with supplying durable medical equipment. This Cost Study survey comes just one week after the highly disappointing news that Congress did not successfully pass the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act. Now it is paramount that we provide a strong case for delay in September--our next opportunity for Congress to act. Strong data proving that the reimbursement rates derived from Medicare's bidding program are too low to cover the actual costs associated with providing equipment will help us on Capitol Hill and at CMS.

AAHomecare has commissioned Dobson & DaVanzo to conduct the study which will focus on selected products from oxygen, sleep, manual wheelchairs, hospital beds, and walkers. The more suppliers who complete the survey, the stronger this Cost Study data will be. Ultimately, this will be a tool to be shared with members of Congress, but it will also be available for companies to compare their costs of doing business to the average costs of the industry.

AAHomecare understands that the demands on your time as a business owner are great, but the effort you put into completing this survey is vital to our legislative pursuit in September. You will need 3-4 hours to complete the HME Industry Cost Analysis Study.

While limited Cost Study analyses have been performed in the past, this will be the first to consider DME in multiple categories that are under threat by competitive bidding pricing.

AAHomecare urges all suppliers to take part in this survey and help build the critical data needed to show that CB rates are truly unsustainable. “This is our opportunity to provide hard numbers industry wide to Congress and CMS to explain the depth of cuts we are receiving compared to the actual cost of doing business,” says Laura Williard, senior director of payer relations for AAHomecare. “This Cost Study will be one more arrow in the quiver to build support on Capitol Hill. A critical mass of participation will make the difference for this strong lobbying tool.”

Visit aahomecare.org/truecost to learn more.