North Carolina Extends PHE Medicaid Increase for HME

RALEIGH, N.C. (September 16, 2021)—North Carolina Medicaid has agreed to extend the 5% Medicaid rate increase granted to help home medical equipment (HME) suppliers respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for an additional two months. The agency had discussed ending the increase for HME on Sept. 30, 2021; it will now remain in place through Nov. 30, 2021.

AAHomecare provided support for the Atlantic Coast Medical Equipment Suppliers Association’s (ACMESA) successful effort to extend the relief, including helping develop this advocacy document detailing supply chain issues and other operational cost increases.

“North Carolina providers are elated that NC Medicaid elected to extend the 5% Covid relief,” said ACMESA President Craig Rae. “In light of the continued cost increases we’re facing, this helps protect access for beneficiaries.”

North Carolina Medicaid leadership has also agreed to meet with ACMESA to discuss extending the relief beyond the new Nov. 30 end-date. The two-month extension will add $2.2 million to HME suppliers’ bottom lines, on top of the estimated $20.9 million in relief already secured for North Carolina suppliers since the rate went into effect in March 2020.