In answer to requests from both government officials and
industry stakeholders, the National Supplier Clearinghouse has
drafted new written guidance for providers who must comply with the
21 Medicare Supplier Standards. At press time, the draft was under
review by members of the NSC Advisory Committee. Check the NSC Web
site for updates at www.palmettogba.com. In the meantime, recent
articles in HomeCare and HomeCare Monday regarding the supplier
standards drew these reader responses.
Logs and Licenses
I just read your very informative article “Are You on the
NSC's Naughty or Nice List?” (by Neil B. Caesar and Kelly R.
Pickens, May 2004). Thank you for it.
I have two questions [for the authors]: 1) When you advise
keeping a log of calls, what exactly do you mean? Are you talking
about every single [call] coming in and out, or calls specifically
related to an audit? 2) Also, where can I find information on what
licenses my state has, such as the “bedding license”
you wrote about?
— Fran Marasow, president, Professional Medical,
Seattle
Kelly R. Pickens of the Health Law Center, Greenville, S.C.,
responds:
About call logs — The article instructs suppliers to
document all communications and correspondence with the NSC. This
is important to demonstrate who said what and when. There have been
frequent occurrences of miscommunications and conflicting
information from NSC representatives.
If you are referring to the requirement that suppliers
maintain complaint logs, this is found in the federal regulations
and included in the 21 supplier standards. All suppliers must
document complaints from beneficiaries, if and when received, and
the corrective action that was taken.
About licensure requirements — The list of licensure
requirements can be found on Palmetto GBA's Web site,
www.palmettogba.com. Go to the National Supplier Clearinghouse,
then to Standards and Compliance, and finally to Licensure
Information. Click on your state.
Reality Check
Concerning the proposed supplier standards guidance (HomeCare
Monday, June 21, 2004), there is a definite trend toward pushing
the small independent supplier out of business. The proposed
[guidance] will kill us, especially the $25,000 minimum
inventory.
The trend toward bigger and bigger DME companies ignores the
realities [that these] companies do not spend any considerable time
with patients explaining proper use of the prescribed products. The
biggest complaint we get from physicians [is that some companies]
drop the equipment box off at the patient's home and run. Elderly
patients [are left] trying to figure out their new equipment from a
manual.
Smaller providers like us are getting forced out, despite a very
loyal customer base.
— Dan Dulnikowski, sales manager, Pro Med Associates,
Pottstown, Pa.
E-mail your letters to Editor-in-Chief Gail Walker at
gwalker@primediabusiness.com.
