Editor’s Inbox

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:

1. 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.
2. 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 [email protected].