Georgia Medicaid to Require Rehab Certification

ATLANTA–By July 1, Georgia HME providers must employ certified
personnel to supply custom rehab equipment under the state’s
Medicaid program.

According to the Georgia Medicaid supplier manual, suppliers
must be certified by RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering Society of
North America) or an “accepted equivalent” to supply custom rehab
equipment under Medicaid. Patricia Ross, DME program specialist for
the Georgia Department of Community Health’s Division of Medical
Assistance, said the state will accept the Certified Rehab
Technology Supplier (CRTS) credential from the National Registry of
Rehab Technology Suppliers (NRRTS) as well.

Ross announced the certification requirement at the Georgia
Association of Medical Equipment Services’ (GAMES) December
meeting. She explained that the requirement applies for those
selling rehab equipment that must be fitted to the end-user;
examples, including certain power and manual wheelchairs, are
listed in the Medicaid supplier manual. She added that a new draft
of the rule with minor revisions is expected by April.

The requirement, Ross explained, was written to address quality
issues. “Some providers out there think that by having a sign and
delivering equipment by UPS, they’re servicing the customer,” she
said.

According to Jason Rogers, GAMES president-elect and vice
president of Athens, Ga.-based Care Medical, the certification
requirement represents a positive move for Georgia providers, and
the association is sponsoring classes to ensure providers’
employees can receive certification.

“Atlanta providers can find and hire certified employees,”
Rogers explained. But referring to the fact that much of the state
is rural, he added, “outside Atlanta, we have to grow our own.”

More details on the policy can be found within Georgia’s
Medicaid supplier manual, available at the state’s Department of
Community Health’s Web site by
clicking here.

For more news, visit this week’s HomeCare Monday at
www.homecaremonday.com.