HHS to Coordinate Katrina HME Donations

WASHINGTON–Two weeks after Hurricane Katrina ravaged portions
of the nation’s southern shore, the home care community is still
reaching out to help the storm’s victims by donating time, money
and services. Numerous manufacturers and providers have launched
company relief efforts offering immediate shipment of equipment and
supplies.

But many who have tried to donate HME are having trouble getting
it to those in need. With some areas now quarantined, power lines
still down, roads impassable and communications spotty along the
Gulf Coast–plus a scarcity of trucks, drivers and fuel–logistics,
shipping sites and storage are proving to be additional
problems.

“People who are making donations don’t know what to do with the
equipment. The Red Cross, which is overwhelmed with requests
meeting basic needs, won’t take it. People are being turned away,”
said Mike Hamilton, executive director of the Alabama Durable
Medical Equipment Association (ADMEA). “We don’t have any way to
match the donations to the needs and then get it down there. Nobody
has the transportation or fuel available. It’s very
frustrating.”

The American Association for Homecare also said members have
reported difficulties delivering equipment to patients in the
region, primarily because of gas shortages and police lines.
According to association spokesman Michael Reinemer, some officials
don’t understand that someone bringing equipment or oxygen “should
be treated as a first responder, such as a firefighter.”

To help coordinate needs, donations and provide a way for the
equipment to be delivered, the Department of Health and Human
Services announced on Friday that all requests for help or offers
to donate should be e-mailed to [email protected]
rather than other organizations.

The industry also is scrambling to serve victims who have
evacuated across state lines–and sometimes DMERC boundaries.

To date, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has declared a public health
emergency in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas,
and federal funding has been approved for 10 other reception
states: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.

President Bush has announced special evacuee status for all who
fled their home states because of the hurricane. This designation
will allow evacuees to apply for a full range of federal benefits
administered by the states, including Medicaid and the State
Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Federal officials are
also working to resolve interstate payment agreements for the
programs.

Because many evacuees’ medical records are unavailable, CMS
announced last week that it is relaxing regulations for health care
providers supplying medical services to Katrina victims. Earlier,
Gary Karr, CMS director of media affairs, told reporters at a
hospital Open Door forum that the agency’s position is to “treat
first, ask billing questions later.”

Immediate relief from HHS and CMS includes the following:

• Health care providers who furnish services in “good faith” but
  cannot comply with certain requirements, such as documentation,
  will be exempt from sanctions for noncompliance standards, unless
  it is discovered that fraud or abuse has occurred.
• Providers covered by Health Insurance Portability and
  Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules can share patient
  information as necessary to provide treatment, to identify, locate
  and notify a patient’s family members or guardians, even if the
  patient is unable to give permission or information to the
  provider.
• To speed enrollment in Medicaid or SCHIP, states serving
  hurricane evacuees will be granted emergency section 1115 waivers
  to provide temporary eligibility. Applications for Medicaid
  coverage for evacuees will be accepted retroactively from Aug.
  24.
• Providers who get requests to provide DME or supplies to a
  Medicare beneficiary who has been forced to evacuate due to the
  hurricane can call (866) 270-4909 to learn about materials in the
  Common Working File. Providers must supply the beneficiary’s name,
  old addresses, date of birth and a list of requested items. If the
  information matches the data on file, the provider should be able
  to get the beneficiary’s HIC number and verify that a valid CMN
  exists. (According to ADMEA’s Hamilton, some Alabama providers have
  reported that no information will be shared unless the beneficiary
  is also on the call.)
• If there is a request for items that were not furnished before
  the storm, Medicare providers are advised to treat it like any new
  order–and to beware of scammers.
• File Medicare claims for hurricane victims on a paper form,
  (the old HCFA-1500), clearly marked “DISASTER.” For deliveries to
  any temporary residence, use the Place of Service code 04 (homeless
  shelter). Providers may file such claims without having the
  required paperwork in advance, but must plan on eventually
  obtaining essentially the same proof of medical necessity that is
  required under normal circumstances for the products
  delivered.
• Medicare payment for disaster-related claims will be made in
  approximately 28 days. Providers may see a delay in processing if
  the victim has relocated to a new DMERC region.
• Also on Friday, CMS announced it is now allowing Hurricane
  Katrina evacuees who left Medicare capped rental items behind to
  begin new rental episodes for replacement equipment.

Additional information on Medicare and Medicaid changes
affecting evacuees is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Katrina
and is updated daily at 2 p.m. EDT.

State association leaders in the affected areas have said that
they are still unsure of the number of providers–or their
patients–who have been displaced because of the storm. “We still
have many folks who we haven’t heard from,” said Hamilton. “It’s
been spooky.”

TO REQUEST OR DONATE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
[email protected]

TO MAKE A CHARITABLE DONATION
American Red Cross
(800) HELP-NOW (435-7669)
www.redcross.org
Home Care Donation Site:
https://secure2.convio.net/arc/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=1783

To find missing loved ones: (877) LOVED-1S (568-3317)

Salvation Army
(800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
www.salvationarmyusa.org

United Way
(800) 272-4630
http://national.unitedway.org

TO VOLUNTEER
(866) KAT MEDI
The Department of Health and Human Services (volunteers with
health care experience)
https://volunteer.hhs.gov

USA Freedom Corps. (volunteers with no health care
background)
(877) USA-CORPS
www.USAFreedomCorps.gov

FOR GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
For detailed information and notices, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/Katrina.
Hurricane Katrina Q&A: www.cms.hhs.gov/hki

Palmetto GBA/Region C DMERC
Voice Response Unit: (866) 238-9650
CSR: (866) 270-4909 (call to find a CMN on file)
www.palmettogba.com

FOR INDUSTRY INFORMATION
American Association for Homecare
Call toll-free (866) 289-0492 for questions relating to Hurricane
Katrina relief efforts.
www.aahomecare.org

The Med Group
www.medgroup.com

The VGM Group
www.vgm.com
www.hmehurricane.com

For additional links, visit http://www.homecaremag.com/news/Katrina_help.