AAHomecare Seeks Priority Status for DMEPOS Suppliers in Vaccine Distributions

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 18, 2020)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) urged government officials to include DMEPOS suppliers in the Phase 1 Distribution of COVID-19 vaccine for front-line health care personnel.

In letters to officials at HHS and leadership at Operation Warp Speed, AAHomecare stressed the close contact that DMEPOS personnel have with patients in home-based settings, as well as highlighting the important role our industry plays in meeting the challenges posed by the pandemic. Specifically, the letter states:

“DMEPOS suppliers are in patients’ homes every day and play a central role in helping individuals infected with COVID-19 manage their health care needs at home so that hospitals and acute care facilities have the capacity to handle those requiring more intensive care. In addition to directly interfacing with infected individuals, many of the products and services provided by DMEPOS suppliers require their staff to enter homes with other caregivers or family present to set up the equipment for use.”

DMEPOS personnel are providing exceptional care under extraordinary circumstances, and AAHomecare believes our professionals and the patients we serve deserve the measure of safety that priority access to COVID-19 vaccines can deliver.

You can see the letter sent to HHS Secretary Alex Azar here. The Association shared a similar letter to General Gustave F. Perna, who is overseeing distribution efforts for Operation Warp Speed, and is also reaching out to other federal officials on the issue.