What You Don’t Know Could Help You Survive!

Now is the time to write the check for your AAHomecare membership renewal. Why? Because there’s a fresh attitude in Washington at the refocused and reenergized AAHomecare, and that’s because of the new president and CEO, Tom Ryan. You could say we have a new hired gun, and this one is also a veteran provider. For the first time ever, the national DME association is led by a peer.

AAHomecare is working hard on the lobbying and grassroots advocacy efforts that you see regularly reported in Wednesday in Washington, as well as other alerts and updates. But there’s so much more that goes into the process of defending your interests before Congress and at regulatory agencies that isn’t readily apparent from what you see in your in-box.

The people at AAHomecare have developed solid relationships with influential congressional staff and regulators. So, while the conversation on any given issue can be contentious sometimes, and doesn’t always produce the hoped-for result, the Association is seen as an honest broker, a ready resource, and a well-informed advocate by these important audiences.

Much like your patients only see a small sliver of what actually goes into the entire process of providing (and getting paid for) their equipment and services, AAHomecare members only see a fraction of what the Association does for you on a daily basis. As the old cliché goes, “if we told you everything that’s going on, we would have to shoot you,” so you’ll have to take it on faith that these behind-the-scenes efforts could be what turns the tide and changes DME’s future for the better.

Results don’t come free; they’re backed up by the engagement of AAHomecare members large and small—and by their dues. AAHomecare can’t do this alone. Now is the time to step up and give Tom and his team the tools they need to fight for us in Washington.

If you’re currently an AAHomecare member, you should have already received your renewal packet. Write the check (or get out your credit card) and send it in. If you are not a member, then now is the time to join the unified voice for the DME industry, AAHomecare. Find more information on membership here, or contact Cheryl Bass at cherylb@aahomecare.org or 571-312-6999 to support the team that is protecting your business every day.

Wayne Stanfield
former executive director, National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers
former vice president of provider relations, American Association for Homecare
current executive director, Home Care Alliance of Virginia

A Month in the Life of AAHomecare

For more than 110 years, the New York Times has proclaimed that their paper carries “All the news that’s fit to print.”

While a major daily newspaper in a major American city certainly does contain a lot of news, if you’re looking for information focused on homecare, there are better sources.

For instance, AAHomecare members have the latest news delivered directly to their inboxes every Wednesday. And for stories that are too hot to wait, special alerts go out immediately. We even publish periodical newsletters that focus on issues related to homecare in general (DME Matters) and mobility in particular (Mobility Matters).

The Association also uses social media sites like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook to keep people informed and have nearly real-time conversations with the homecare community. These sites help us to connect our members with a stream of relevant articles from news outlets across the country in addition to the articles we produce in-house.

Running a business can keep a person busy from sun up to sun down and beyond. But even with all that there is to do in any given 24-hour period, stepping back and looking outside of the daily routine is the key to maintaining a healthy business. How else will you know what’s coming at you from CMS and their alphabet soup of contractors?

If you’re not an AAHomecare member, or if you haven’t been reading your Wednesday in Washington emails, here’s just some of what you missed in October alone:

• Guidance on Round 1 Recompete contracts
• Advice on overpayments and surety bonds
• Updated oxygen supplier requirements and licensure review tools from the National Supplier Clearinghouse 
• Summary of the CERT errors report
• Seminar on patient billing and collections
• Substantial savings on AAHomecare’s new customizable Focus on Compliance Workbook 
• Opportunity to participate in a survey on power mobility repairs that will be shared with CMS
• New scoring guidelines for hypopnea from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 
• Introduction of a new Medicare claim review contractor 
• New Medicare overpayment/underpayment interest rate
• Update on 2014 Medicare fee-for-service regulations for end-stage renal disease
• Profile of a HME provider running for state office in Georgia.
• Initial guidance on documentation requirements for abandoned oxygen patients
• Findings from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General on the appeals process

To get the full benefit of our news operations, join AAHomecare. But if you’re not quite ready to take that step, be a part of the conversation online—friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to us on YouTube.

Don’t go another month missing out on vital information that affects the day-to-day running of your business.

In Case You Missed It: News & Notes from Medtrade 2013

The Luck of the Draw

Congratulations to Anna McDevitt, with Laboratory Marketing in Farmdale, Mich., who won the AAHomecare booth drawing for a high-definition TV at Medtrade.  Anna says this about her company’s involvement with AAHomecare:

"Being part of AAHomecare has made it easy to network with other professionals in the industry as well as take an active role in defending homecare providers and patients in Washington. I view my AAHomecare membership as both a business tool and professional duty. As the motto goes: 'United we stand, divided we fall.'"

If you’re an AAHomecare member, or just curious about our role as an advocate and resource for the HME community, make plans to stop by our booth at Medtrade Spring (March 10-12, 2014, Las Vegas). You may or may not win a major household appliance, but we promise to make it worth your time.

Homecare Champions Honored as Hundreds Stand Up for Homecare

At a packed Stand Up for Homecare reception, AAHomecare celebrated the recipients of its annual Homecare Champion Award:  Scott Meuser, chairman and CEO of Pride Mobility; and long-time HME industry advocate Shelly Prial. The award recognizes association members who have made exceptional contributions to the homecare community throughout their careers.

Meuser was honored for his long time leadership on public policy issues, including service on the AAHomecare board of directors, and also for Pride’s long term commitment to working in close partnership with the provider community. Prial’s award comes in recognition of a long and pioneering career in the HME sector and for his continued advocacy as Medtrade ambassador and influential blogger.

The event raised more than $75,000 in support of enhanced efforts to get positive, accurate news about home medical equipment into national and local media through direct outreach to media contacts. The campaign also helps recruit new homecare advocates, including providers, their patients, and other stakeholders build positive perceptions of the HME sector on Capitol Hill. Learn more about the Stand Up for Homecare campaign.

Make your plans to support this important campaign and meet other HME leaders at the next Stand Up for Homecare reception at Medtrade Spring. Contact Ashley Jackson at 202-372-0743 or ashleyj@aahomecare.org about sponsorship opportunities at Medtrade’s can’t-miss networking event.

Where Were You?

Did you miss out on Medtrade 2013? You can still access more than 70 educational sessions from the show, available individually or as a complete set, as well as sessions from past shows, via the Medtrade Digital Library.

More importantly, mark your calendar and get ready to join us in person at Medtrade Spring, March 10-12, 2014, in fabulous Las Vegas.  Give Medtrade three days of your time, and you’ll get back a return that will pay dividends for your business all year long!

What is CMS going to cook up next for DME providers?

Whatever it is, you’ll want to have a solid compliance program in place.

Now that the Congress has reached an agreement to keep the federal government in operation (for a few months, at least), the folks at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can get back to dreaming up new audit regimens and other requirements for you to contend with.

Speaking of requirements, did you know that 2010's Affordable Care Act will make having a compliance program mandatory for any provider who bills Medicare? That’s right: mandatory, as in the opposite of optional.

But don’t despair, while compliance programs can be complicated, time-consuming, and expensive to develop from scratch, AAHomecare has a way to make starting your program easier, faster, and cheaper! Our new Focus on Compliance Workbook, written by attorney Asela Cuervo and reviewed by members of the Association’s Regulatory Council, will guide you through the process.

The Focus on Compliance Workbook provides explanations and sample forms for these important elements of an effective compliance program:

•    written standards and procedures
•    the compliance officer
•    employee training
•    means for employees to report misconduct
•    processes to investigate reports of misconduct and take corrective action
•    enforcement through disciplinary action
•    ongoing monitoring

In addition to maintaining enrollment in federal healthcare programs, the benefits of a custom compliance program include built-in audit support, more effective internal controls, and quality improvements.

Take a look at the table of contents to get a better sense of the impressive scope of this detailed 80+ page workbook, then order your copy today and save with our early-bird pricing special:

•    $499 for AAHomecare members
•    $799 for non-members

These introductory prices are valid through December 31.

What does it mean to “Stand Up for Homecare”?

If you’re in the homecare industry, you hear that phrase a lot, but what does it really mean?

First and foremost, it means building positive perceptions of home medical equipment (HME) on Capitol Hill. At the same time, it means getting positive, accurate news about HME into national and local media through direct outreach to journalists.

Too often it’s the small number of scammers and fraud artists who think they can make a quick buck by ripping off Medicare that make the news and catch the eye of Congress—not the many dedicated HME professionals who work long hours taking care of patients. That’s just not right, and the Stand Up for Homecare campaign works year-round to change it.

Second, it means attending the Stand Up for Homecare reception, which is widely regarded as the networking event at Medtrade. The reception brings together HME leaders of all sorts—manufacturers, large and small providers, patient advocacy groups, and more. This is the place to put faces with names, join conversations covering every aspect of the homecare industry, and get energized for whatever lies ahead!

Of course, none of this can happen without resources, bringing us to…

Third, it means donating what you can afford to the Stand Up for Homecare campaign. Whether it’s a little, a lot, or something in between, every penny counts and is deeply appreciated. So far, funds raised by the campaign have helped AAHomecare:

• reach more than 10 million Americans with articles in newspapers and magazines, print ads, and letters to the editor last year.
• grow our grassroots network by signing up nearly 9,000 homecare advocates who have generated more than 20,000 messages to Congress in the past 18 months.
• collaborate with consumer and patient groups to expand awareness and support for fair Medicare policies for homecare.

In addition, the campaign funds the production of two influential newsletters that are sent to the media and to healthcare staffers on Capitol Hill:

• Mobility Matters focuses on the role that power mobility and complex rehab equipment play in allowing individuals with mobility challenges to thrive.
• DME Matters highlights problems being caused for patients and providers by the so-called “competitive” bidding program.

These newsletters are produced to inform and engage Capitol Hill, the media, and the general public. We’re happy to add you to the distribution lists, so feel free to sign up for Mobility Matters and/or DME Matters by emailing info@aahomecare.org and asking to receive either or both publications.

If you’re planning to attend Medtrade, why not join us on Tuesday, October 8 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Baterbys Art Gallery in Orlando, Fla. Network with HME leaders and welcome our newest Homecare Champions into the Homecare Champions Hall of Fame.

Even if you can’t come to the reception, please consider making a donation. We’ll include your name on signs at the event, in our Wednesday in Washington newsletter, and our website. And, we’re happy to hold tickets for anyone you choose to attend in your place. Register online or download a form to mail or fax back to us.

The homecare community understands the issues that affect both businesses and patients because we live them every day. But Congress and the media need help understanding what’s important and why. They need to hear about the knowledge and dedication required to serve patients the right way. Stand Up for Homecare and make it happen!