CMS Releases Post-Harvey Guidance for HME Providers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 7, 2017)—CMS has just released guidance covering replacements for lost/damaged DMEPOS items in the wake of a declared emergency. The guidance states that: “When durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) are lost, destroyed, irreparably damaged or otherwise rendered unusable due to circumstances relating to a declared emergency, Medicare will pay for the replacement DMEPOS that a Medicare beneficiary owns or purchased.” The CMS guidance also:

• Establishes that a new physician order, face-to-face requirements and new medical necessity documentation are not needed for the replacement.
• Requires a narrative description explaining why the equipment must be replaced.
• Extends the notification deadline for subcontracting agreements to 30 days.

Additionally, CMS has shared with AAHomecare that the rental cycle will start over for capped rental and oxygen equipment that are replaced due to Hurricane Harvey. AAHomecare is dedicated to ensuring policy relief for the DMEPOS community devastated by Hurricane Harvey and will continue to work with CMS as the Agency shifts their focus on Hurricane Irma.

More details can be found in CMS’s recently released guidance here.

Visit aahomecare.org for more information.