WASHINGTON--Two weeks after Hurricane Katrina ravaged portions of the nation's southern shore, the home care community is still reaching out to help the storm's victims by donating time, money and services. Numerous manufacturers and providers have launched company relief efforts offering immediate shipment of equipment and supplies.
But many who have tried to donate HME are having trouble getting it to those in need. With some areas now quarantined, power lines still down, roads impassable and communications spotty along the Gulf Coast--plus a scarcity of trucks, drivers and fuel--logistics, shipping sites and storage are proving to be additional problems.
"People who are making donations don't know what to do with the equipment. The Red Cross, which is overwhelmed with requests meeting basic needs, won't take it. People are being turned away," said Mike Hamilton, executive director of the Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association (ADMEA). "We don't have any way to match the donations to the needs and then get it down there. Nobody has the transportation or fuel available. It's very frustrating."
The American Association for Homecare also said members have reported difficulties delivering equipment to patients in the region, primarily because of gas shortages and police lines. According to association spokesman Michael Reinemer, some officials don't understand that someone bringing equipment or oxygen "should be treated as a first responder, such as a firefighter."
To help coordinate needs, donations and provide a way for the equipment to be delivered, the Department of Health and Human Services announced on Friday that all requests for help or offers to donate should be e-mailed to katrinalogistics@hhs.gov rather than other organizations.
The industry also is scrambling to serve victims who have evacuated across state lines--and sometimes DMERC boundaries.
To date, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has declared a public health emergency in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, and federal funding has been approved for 10 other reception states: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.
President Bush has announced special evacuee status for all who fled their home states because of the hurricane. This designation will allow evacuees to apply for a full range of federal benefits administered by the states, including Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Federal officials are also working to resolve interstate payment agreements for the programs.
Because many evacuees' medical records are unavailable, CMS announced last week that it is relaxing regulations for health care providers supplying medical services to Katrina victims. Earlier, Gary Karr, CMS director of media affairs, told reporters at a hospital Open Door forum that the agency's position is to "treat first, ask billing questions later."
Immediate relief from HHS and CMS includes the following:
- Health care providers who furnish services in "good faith" but cannot comply with certain requirements, such as documentation, will be exempt from sanctions for noncompliance standards, unless it is discovered that fraud or abuse has occurred.
- Providers covered by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules can share patient information as necessary to provide treatment, to identify, locate and notify a patient's family members or guardians, even if the patient is unable to give permission or information to the provider.
- To speed enrollment in Medicaid or SCHIP, states serving hurricane evacuees will be granted emergency section 1115 waivers to provide temporary eligibility. Applications for Medicaid coverage for evacuees will be accepted retroactively from Aug. 24.
- Providers who get requests to provide DME or supplies to a Medicare beneficiary who has been forced to evacuate due to the hurricane can call (866) 270-4909 to learn about materials in the Common Working File. Providers must supply the beneficiary's name, old addresses, date of birth and a list of requested items. If the information matches the data on file, the provider should be able to get the beneficiary's HIC number and verify that a valid CMN exists. (According to ADMEA's Hamilton, some Alabama providers have reported that no information will be shared unless the beneficiary is also on the call.)
- If there is a request for items that were not furnished before the storm, Medicare providers are advised to treat it like any new order--and to beware of scammers.
- File Medicare claims for hurricane victims on a paper form, (the old HCFA-1500), clearly marked "DISASTER." For deliveries to any temporary residence, use the Place of Service code 04 (homeless shelter). Providers may file such claims without having the required paperwork in advance, but must plan on eventually obtaining essentially the same proof of medical necessity that is required under normal circumstances for the products delivered.
- Medicare payment for disaster-related claims will be made in approximately 28 days. Providers may see a delay in processing if the victim has relocated to a new DMERC region.
- Also on Friday, CMS announced it is now allowing Hurricane Katrina evacuees who left Medicare capped rental items behind to begin new rental episodes for replacement equipment.
Additional information on Medicare and Medicaid changes affecting evacuees is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Katrina and is updated daily at 2 p.m. EDT.
State association leaders in the affected areas have said that they are still unsure of the number of providers--or their patients--who have been displaced because of the storm. "We still have many folks who we haven't heard from," said Hamilton. "It's been spooky."
TO REQUEST OR DONATE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
katrinalogistics@hhs.gov
TO MAKE A CHARITABLE DONATION
American Red Cross
(800) HELP-NOW (435-7669)
www.redcross.org
Home Care Donation Site:
https://secure2.convio.net/arc/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=1783
To find missing loved ones: (877) LOVED-1S (568-3317)
Salvation Army
(800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
www.salvationarmyusa.org
United Way
(800) 272-4630
http://national.unitedway.org
TO VOLUNTEER
(866) KAT MEDI
The Department of Health and Human Services (volunteers with
health care experience)
https://volunteer.hhs.gov
USA Freedom Corps. (volunteers with no health care
background)
(877) USA-CORPS
www.USAFreedomCorps.gov
FOR GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
For detailed information and notices, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/Katrina.
Hurricane Katrina Q&A: www.cms.hhs.gov/hki
Palmetto GBA/Region C DMERC
Voice Response Unit: (866) 238-9650
CSR: (866) 270-4909 (call to find a CMN on file)
www.palmettogba.com
FOR INDUSTRY INFORMATION
American Association for Homecare
Call toll-free (866) 289-0492 for questions relating to Hurricane
Katrina relief efforts.
www.aahomecare.org
The Med Group
www.medgroup.com
The VGM Group
www.vgm.com
www.hmehurricane.com
For additional links, visit http://www.homecaremag.com/news/Katrina_help.