Some Respiratory Assist Devices Reclassified

Baltimore

Certain respiratory assist devices, including some continuous positive airway pressure devices, are being reclassified as capped-rental items, CMS announced.

Effective April 1, RADs with bi-level capability and a backup rate — what used to be known as “intermittent assist devices with continuous positive airway pressure devices” — will no longer be considered DME requiring “frequent and substantial servicing for payment purposes,” according to CMS.

Instead, monthly rental payments from Medicare will decrease at the fourth month of rental, and after 13 months of rental, title will transfer to the beneficiary and payments will stop altogether. Medicare will continue to pay 80 percent, and beneficiaries 20 percent, of the Medicare allowed payment amount for maintenance for the equipment after the rental payments end.

But in a response issued late Friday, the American Association for Homecare said it is “dismayed” at the rule and disagrees with CMS’ assumption that patients who need this type of equipment would be able to determine when maintenance or repairs would be required and to arrange for these services.