Ohio Medicaid Proposes HME Bidding

WASHINGTON–The American Association for Homecare reported last
week that Ohio HME providers could face “selective contracting”
under a new Medicaid rule proposed by the Ohio Department of Job
and Family Services.

The rule creates a bidding program that would selectively
contract HME items and services provided to the state’s Medicaid
beneficiaries. According to the association, the rule is a response
to recommendations made by the Ohio Commission to Reform Medicaid
regarding negotiation of provider contracts for durable medical
equipment and supplies.

Quoted in the association’s newsletter, Kam Yuricich, executive
director of the Ohio Association for Medical Equipment Services,
called the announcement “discouraging on many levels. First of all,
the rule is so vague that by its very simplicity it is
unacceptable. It’s wide open. Also, Ohio Medicaid has moved
aggressively into managed care over the past two years with almost
1.2 million consumers enrolled at a savings of approximately $127
million to the state program.”

Yuricich said members of Ohio’s congressional delegation have
been “vocal opponents” of Medicare competitive bidding. Rep. David
Hobson, R-Ohio, is a co-author of H.R. 1845, which would amend the
competitive bidding program to allow all qualified providers to
participate in Medicare at the bid rate. But now, Yuricich said,
they find their “own state Medicaid program moving in that
direction.”