OIG’s Morris Blasts HME

ARLINGTON, Va. — Is it too much to expect accurate or fair
press reporting? That’s the question AAHomecare asked after OIG
General Counsel Lew Morris slammed power mobility and oxygen
payments on a broadcast of “Dan Rather Reports” that aired Jan. 18.
“Those who supply these [oxygen] concentrators organized, even
brought, senior citizens dragging oxygen tanks behind them to go up
on the Hill and beg their representatives not to cut their oxygen
supply, not to let them die, not to let the price of this
critically valued piece of equipment be reduced. And Congress
heard. So, the Medicare program was stopped from reducing those
prices,” Morris told the TV newsman.

“The idea that Medicare has not cut oxygen prices is not just
inaccurate, it’s preposterous,” AAHomecare officials responded,
citing the 9.5 percent Medicare reimbursement cut and the 36-month
oxygen rental cap. AAHomecare said the organization informed show
producers about the various cuts prior to the segment’s air date,
“but they chose to ignore it.” View a transcript of the broadcast.