AAHomecare: CMS webinars too little, too late

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 6, 2013—In an anemic effort at the eleventh hour to share much-needed information about Round 2 with all of the healthcare personnel affected, CMS has scheduled a series of four webinars for, as the agency describes, “physicians, social workers, discharge planners, and anyone else who refers beneficiaries for DMEPOS supplies.”

Why the education to referral sources and others is occurring with fewer than 30 days before the July 1 implementation is a question that has many left wondering. Disappointingly, despite the bidding program covering large swaths of the country, the webinars will accommodate only 1,000 participants with each program serving a maximum of 250.

AAHomecare questions why the education process is only now beginning and why so few participants will be able to take advantage of the webinars. CMS should have launched their familiarization effort several months ago and even now, with its “late to the game” approach, the agency should be planning for and encouraging stronger attendance on its webinars.

Registration (To register, click here.) is now open. The dates and times are:

• June 11 at 11 a.m. ET
• June 13 at 4 p.m. ET
• June 17 at 2 p.m. ET
• June 19 at 5 p.m. ET

All four webinars will include the same presentation. Contact Jon Langmead at [email protected] with any questions or if you are unable to register due to the webinars reaching maximum attendance. AAHomecare’s website is www.aahomecare.org.