tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57037365510170693242010-09-02T08:09:54.080-04:00The American Association for Homecare is the voice for homecare in Washington. AAHomecare lobbies Congress, the White House, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other agencies to improve federal policy as it relates to Medicare, Medicaid and other health care issues that affect the millions of Americans who require medical care in their homes.Web Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12404878973597039092noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-28016500848441383002010-08-31T15:47:00.001-04:002010-08-31T15:49:04.249-04:00

In a letter to Representatives Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) and Ralph Hall (R-Texas), CMS rejected the request of 136 members of the House of Representatives requesting greater transparency in the bid process. The letter, which AAHomecare received from congressional sources, will also be sent via mail to all the cosigners of the August 11 transparency letter.In the response, the Centers for Medicare

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-35561627665616918992010-08-26T11:57:00.000-04:002010-08-26T11:59:00.854-04:00

The first independent study focused on the patient impact of the “competitive” bidding program for HME predicts that the program may produce a number of negative outcomes, including fewer choices, reduced access to care, and lower quality products for the Medicare beneficiaries who depend on home medical equipment and services.The study, by health economics consulting firm Dobson DaVanzo &

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-62876441879251682062010-08-23T11:42:00.000-04:002010-08-23T11:43:54.618-04:00

The Pennsylvania Association of Medical Services (PAMS) is the first state association to adopt the AAHomecare Code of Business, helping to raise the bar for the HME community in Pennsylvania. “PAMS is pleased to endorse AAHomecare’s comprehensive Code of Business Ethics,” said John Shirvinsky, executive director of PAMS. “We have been exploring our options for adopting a more comprehensive code

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-35379461704557726092010-08-20T09:11:00.002-04:002010-08-20T09:13:58.495-04:00

Documenting medical necessity for Medicare patients requiring power mobility is a frustrating experience for homecare equipment providers, as well as physicians. Even clinicians who specialize in helping those with physical disabilities call on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a far more efficient process. Today, homecare equipment providers face new guidelines

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-6107704548943622982010-08-02T09:30:00.003-04:002010-08-02T11:11:27.035-04:00

The Miami Herald reported on Saturday that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has awarded 17 bidding contracts to a company that settled Medicare fraud charges twice in the past eight years. According to the story, Orlando-based Rotech Healthcare paid $2 million in August 2008 to settle civil charges that it covered up Medicare over-billing in three states to avoid penalties related

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-1817539479799720102010-07-27T10:12:00.001-04:002010-07-27T10:12:50.421-04:00

In “My Word: Medicare bidding flawed,” Aaron Bates from Orlando, Fla., discusses the flaws in a recent column on Medicare’s competitive bidding program which was printed in the Orlando Sentinel. Bates states the article is, “based upon the flawed premise that medical equipment and related services (oxygen therapy, wheelchairs, etc.) delivered to Medicare beneficiaries in their homes should be

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-37248345504606597432010-07-21T11:15:00.002-04:002010-07-21T11:27:03.198-04:00

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), was signed into law on July 26, 1990. More than 54 million Americans with physical or mental impairments that substantially limit daily activities are protected under the ADA, including many of the beneficiaries cared for by the HME community.“This landmark legislation is important to millions of Americans who are served by the home medical equipment

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-83250517099691068252010-07-16T09:46:00.001-04:002010-07-16T09:47:26.324-04:00

“Quality, dependable service beneficiaries will become a thing of the past once the few suppliers awarded the bid become so bogged down that they cannot handle the sheer volume of patients, forcing them to cut back services or equipment to the very people who need them the most: the old and the sick,” the opinion piece in the Sun Sentinel states. The piece titled, “Competitive bidding not the

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-23253730233635694062010-07-08T11:16:00.000-04:002010-07-08T11:17:56.975-04:00

With 100-plus temperatures scorching the East Coast, excessive heat and poor air quality pose a grave health risk for seniors, particularly those living at home alone. People age 65 and older, people who are ill, and children under four are particularly at risk. Air conditioning and drinking fluids are key defenses against extreme heat. For guidance, visit the Centers for Disease Control website

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-53030707796154175362010-07-02T13:34:00.001-04:002010-07-02T13:35:49.400-04:00

Homecare Association Calls for an End to the Controversial Bidding Program that Will Cost Thousands of Lost Jobs and Business Failures and Will Not Save Money for Seniors Seniors and people with disabilities who rely on home medical equipment and services will pay a steep price under Medicare’s controversial and mislabeled “competitive” bidding program for durable medical equipment. The U.S.

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-85737341868276591512010-06-15T16:38:00.002-04:002010-06-15T16:43:27.816-04:00

The Colorado Springs Business Journal published the following quote about competitive bidding from the Colorado Association of Medical Equipment Services board member Doug Coleman:“Competitive bidding sounds reasonable on the surface - however, in its current form, it is very dangerous for patients who need home medical equipment,” Coleman said. “The program forces providers to submit

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-13699566315404211452010-06-08T14:16:00.000-04:002010-06-08T14:41:23.002-04:00

The American Association for Homecare published the fifth installment of Mobility Matters, a periodical which is used to inform Congress, the administration, policymakers, consumer organizations and the media about Medicare’s power mobility benefit, and the need to sustain it. Issue five reads:For decades, Lucy Spruill has been an advocate for people living with disabilities. She has been

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-69410102059166607502010-06-02T13:09:00.001-04:002010-06-02T13:11:19.049-04:00

Providers of home medical equipment and services across New Jersey are proposing a fiscally responsible alternative to the mislabeled “competitive” bidding scheme currently under way in Medicare that will actually discourage competition, reduce access to care for many of the state’s 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries, and put hundreds of New Jersey homecare providers out of business. Home

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-39981343545799924282010-05-24T16:52:00.000-04:002010-05-24T16:53:30.366-04:00

At a town hall meeting a year ago, President Obama said that home-based care could play a major role in controlling Medicare costs by keeping older people out of more expensive institutional care. “I actually think homecare ends up being cost-efficient in many cases rather than institutional care, and it helps keep people in their homes,” the president told his audience in the Cleveland suburb

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-49547032585398465552010-05-18T15:21:00.000-04:002010-05-18T15:23:25.269-04:00

Legitimate Medical Equipment Providers Are Victimized by Administrative BacklogsA recent study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirms that the processing of Medicare reimbursement claims for medical equipment providers continues to be a problem despite the government’s efforts to implement reforms. The administrative shortcomings within the Medicare program have caused painful

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-42947445368505498232010-05-05T16:05:00.006-04:002010-05-05T16:28:54.398-04:00

Barnes Healthcare Services, an HME provider in Valdosta, Georgia and member of the American Association for Homecare, invited Congressman Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) to their facility for a tour and discussion of the merits of H.R. 3790. In attendance for the meeting were Ed Cockman and Ken Goff from Family Healthcare, Tom Riddle for MRS Homecare, Don Bates from Fuller Rehab, Christie Merchant from

Web Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12404878973597039092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-45713855981038717572010-04-29T10:59:00.001-04:002010-04-29T11:02:05.549-04:00

70 year old Chuck Robinson, a 25 year resident of Yucca Valley became wheelchair bound 5 years ago after he suffered a stroke. After losing a leg in a motor cycle accident more than a decade ago, doctors amputated his other leg following the stroke and he lost use of his right hand. If it wasn't for his battery powered wheel chair, Chuck hates to think where he might be. "I'd probably be in a

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-48145347139274644942010-04-22T17:42:00.000-04:002010-04-22T17:43:06.896-04:00

The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) today released a Mobility Matters bulletin documenting the case of a 68-year-old amputee from Yucca Valley, Calif. whose Medicare claim for a power wheelchair was denied by the government. Mobility Matters, a bimonthly update sent to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, said that two years ago, the man, who was referred to as John, sought a power

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-75840869548473504952010-04-20T10:56:00.001-04:002010-04-20T10:57:44.802-04:00

Q: How will the health care reform bill affect the elderly and people with disabilities who use wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen and other medical devices? Will a new medical device tax in the bill make it harder for them to get needed equipment?A: To help the government raise at least $2 billion yearly to subsidize insurance coverage for those who lack it, the reform bill establishes a new, 2.3

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-22885217352500893302010-04-08T13:32:00.000-04:002010-04-08T13:33:41.335-04:00

Does the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General advocate for specific policies, rather than objectively monitoring HHS programs and how well their goals are achieved? The homecare community is posing that question after the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report last summer that the OIG acknowledged was flawed but still used the results to

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-44157055483486626972010-03-23T16:32:00.001-04:002010-03-23T16:32:29.857-04:00

The American Association for Homecare expressed alarm about provisions in the new health reform law that will harm homecare patients and providers. The cumulative impact of the provisions aimed at the home medical equipment sector will reduce the ability to provide the level of services that homecare patients and physicians expect in Medicare.“Unfortunately, this health reform bill contains

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-65584484658212580962010-03-22T16:26:00.001-04:002010-03-22T16:28:39.569-04:00

The American Association for Homecare expressed dismay about the unwarranted, disproportionate, and harmful impact of the health reform bill on homecare patients and providers. The health reform bill passed by the House last night Last night, the House of Representatives passed the sweeping health care reform legislation that had been passed by the Senate on December 24, 2009. This bill will now

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-21248245153026975912010-03-16T11:52:00.000-04:002010-03-16T11:53:06.627-04:00

Medicare has been touting the merits of the “competitive” bidding program for durable, or home medical equipment and services (HME) to convince Congress that the program is good for seniors. Unfortunately, proponents have conveyed misleading information and cherry-picked facts that exaggerate the benefits and ignore the shortcomings of the program.MYTH #1: The bidding program is good for

AAHomecarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12768226169782926602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-83269484037121209032010-03-15T16:36:00.009-04:002010-03-15T16:47:02.046-04:00

Several members of Congress spoke at the AAHomecare Washington Legislative Conference, March 1-3. All spoke about the benefits and cost-effectiveness of homecare and its importance in our healthcare system.“Homecare is a major part of the solution in terms of cost-effectiveness,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) during AAHomecare Washington Legislative Conference. And with explosive growth

Web Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12404878973597039092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703736551017069324.post-66472836676719739932010-03-10T13:05:00.018-05:002010-03-15T16:36:08.903-04:00

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2010 Washington Legislative Conference! We had over 270 attendees who charged Capitol Hill to fight for homecare.During the conference, several moments were captured:Director of CMS’ Center for Medicare Management, Jonathan Blum, receives tough questions from the luncheon audience.The North Carolina delegation listens in on a conference presentation.The New

Web Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12404878973597039092noreply@blogger.com0