CMS Denies FAMES’ Request for Emergency Oxygen Waiver

ORLANDO, Fla.–In the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, CMS has
denied a request by the Florida Association of Medical Equipment
Services to allow HME companies to provide emergency oxygen to
Medicare beneficiaries without a prescription.

According to FAMES, CMS told the organization that it “is not
blanketly extending hurricane waivers as we did for Katrina to
Wilma-affected areas,” and that providers should contact their
regional office to report problems, which will be dealt with on an
individual basis.

“FAMES is very concerned that the estimated 824,488 people in
the East Coast hurricane zone who are eligible to be participating
in the Medicare program will not receive timely or effective
assistance if cases are being handled on an ‘individual basis,’”
the state association said last week.

“We’re still pursuing CMS trying to get them to change their
minds,” said Heather Allan, the association’s executive director.
“This was a Category 3 hurricane that hit, and the counties at the
south end of the peninsula took a beating. We’re not sure that
everyone understands how bad it was, because the aftermath of Wilma
has not received much news coverage.

“When you look at the population of people in those areas that
were affected–Broward, Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties–we
question whether it is feasible for the regional office of CMS to
attempt to handle those claims on a case-by-case basis,” she
said.

“I am greatly disappointed with CMS’ lack of consideration
regarding the victims of Wilma,” said FAMES President Raul Lopez,
director of operations for Bayshore Dura Medical, Miami. “I feel
that CMS should re-evaluate the situation and take into
consideration the fact that approximately 25 percent of Wilma
victims are eligible for Medicare benefits.

“I believe that CMS has not realized the scope of the disaster
that has affected South Florida,” continued Lopez, who took over as
association president in September. “CMS needs to realize that
there are almost 900,000 Medicare-eligible recipients that have
possibly suffered disruption of services due to the number of DME
providers that were also affected by Wilma, many of whom are still
not 100 percent operational.”

FAMES is asking all of its members to contact their legislators
about the issue. For more information, contact the FAMES office at
(407) 895-5573 or via e-mail at [email protected].