HQAA Introduces Payment Option

The Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation, Waterloo,
Iowa, has introduced an interest-free payment program to ease the
cost of meeting industry accreditation requirements, the company
announced last week. The program comes at a time when small DME/HME
providers across the country, especially in rural areas, are
closing their businesses at a rapid rate, according to HQAA
Executive Director Mary Nicholas. “Recent changes in accreditation
requirements, combined with major cuts in Medicare reimbursements
earlier this year, are forcing thousands of providers nationwide to
close their doors, or to consider doing so,” said Nicholas. “The
‘Bite-Size Payment’ program gives providers the option of up to 24
months of interest-free payments, making it easier to cover the
cost of meeting their accreditation requirements, and hopefully
then, remain open to continue to serve their patients.” Oct. 1 was
the deadline for HME companies to become accredited in order to
continue doing business with Medicare.