AAHomecare Pushes to Let Seniors Retain DME Rental Option

ALEXANDRIA,Va.–The American Association for Homecare is
stepping up efforts to preserve the right for Medicare
beneficiaries to choose to rent equipment in the capped rental
category.

A Senate provision in the nation’s 2006 budget reconciliation
bill requires transfer of title to Medicare patients for certain
DME items after a 13-month rental. AAHomecare said it is working
hurriedly to point out to members of Congress that the provision
“eliminates the beneficiary’s choice to continue renting medical
equipment in the capped rental category and places an unfair burden
on these seniors.”

While Senate leaders included the proposal as a way to save $900
million in Medicare/Medicaid spending, the association explained
that:

–DME providers are currently required to notify patients about
the option to rent or purchase durable medical equipment in the
capped rental category, but the vast majority of Medicare
beneficiaries prefers the rental option;
–if the medical equipment is purchased, the Medicare patient
incurs additional fees for emergency support or to exchange
malfunctioning equipment;
–it is neither safe nor fair to shift the burden of maintenance
and repair for medical equipment to the Medicare patient; and
–reimbursement cuts for the majority of capped rental DME items
have already occurred under the FEHBP-based cuts that took effect
at the beginning of 2005.

If budget negotiators can’t work out differences between the
Senate and House of Representatives’ version of the budget
bill–which includes no capped rental provision–before the
Christmas break, they will renew discussion when Congress returns
in late January.