Post-Ike, HME Providers Remain for the Long Haul

HOUSTON–With the death toll at 60 as of Friday and more than a
million people still without power in Texas alone, residents across
nine states moved into recovery mode last week in the aftermath of
Hurricane Ike.

Although rescue teams concluded their work and had begun pulling
out of areas along the Texas coast, where the ferocious storm hit
in the wee hours Sept. 13, the lack of power and gasoline in
Houston continued to create problems for home-based patients and
HME providers.

President Bush had previously declared major disasters in Texas
and Louisiana, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal
Emergency Management Agency said it is coordinating the joint
efforts of federal, state and local authorities in providing
essential services and supplies to those in need. But in Houston,
14 regional hospitals without power remained closed and, according
to press reports, only 40 gas stations were operating in the
nation’s fourth largest city.

Many of Houston’s residents were still without electricity, and
people waited for food, water and ice at 22 distribution centers
that had been set up around the city. Officials said it could be
another week or more before all power is restored.

Following is an excerpt from a report on the situation in
Houston last week from the Accredited Medical Equipment Providers
of America:

“Today in greater Houston over 1 million people are
still without power, gas lines are long as only a few stations are
open, there is minimal food available as what was in supermarkets
has now spoiled, and there is little relief in site. 911 is not
functioning properly in a majority of the city as resources are
unable to respond and lines are still down. FEMA does not respond
to phone calls and hospitals are scrounging for equipment and
resources.

“Yet in this difficult situation medical equipment
companies like Texas Home Medical, an AMEPA member from Greater
Houston, is doing its best to service all of its 1,000 clients. The
Hall family, which owns and operates the business, admits to nerves
getting testy as the fifth day of over 100-degree temperatures is
upon them. Working out of their warehouse offices with no power and
no air conditioning, they respond to calls for service all day and
night. Their generators can only run their phones and computers,
but that is a luxury in the environment in which they find
themselves.

“Each day Texas Home Medical not only delivers oxygen
but they look for ways to fill their tanks. The firms that normally
fill their oxygen tanks are closed with no word on when they will
reopen. Putting patients first, Texas Home Medical located local
welding shops with tank-refilling capacity and they have their
people posted there, filling day and night. They are paying a
premium to have their oxygen tanks filled there, but it is the only
way to service their patients. At night each truck in their fleet
has waited for up to three hours for gasoline so they can deliver
oxygen the next day. They have been working on 24-hour schedules
and proudly report they have covered all of their patients. FEMA
cannot say that; FEMA is out of oxygen. Local hospitals are calling
Texas Home Medical for oxygen and they are trying to help.

“Most hospitals are still without power …
Patients need to be released, but unfortunately, because a limited
amount of providers are able to work, there is a backup of patients
who cannot be released without equipment at home for their
immediate use. Texas Home Medical is working all hours to assist in
clearing patients out of hospitals, finding supplies and equipment
that is not easily located as many manufactures and suppliers are
not in operation in this post-storm environment.

“The Hall family and other medical equipment providers
have put their patients before their own families, with little
food, limited gas, no electricity and few prospects, their families
go without while they service the needs of patients throughout
Houston, taking up the slack for others and doing what doctors,
hospitals, and other health care agencies cannot and will not do:
service patients in their homes. Such is the commitment of [the]
medical equipment provider.

“This news is no surprise to providers in Melbourne,
Fla., who were hit by hurricanes a month ago and serviced patients
for a week while their community was deluged with 24 inches of
rain, flooding, loss of electricity and limited fuel. It is no
surprise to Miami DME providers who have been through this time and
again, yet no patient has ever died in these hurricane-prone areas
due to a lack of oxygen. This is not because oxygen is not an
essential medication; this is because the providers’ commitment
cannot be deterred.

“These providers know they will never be paid for all
for this extra effort; their fees are the same no matter the
hassles to find fuel, to find oxygen, to find patients’ homes when
signage is blown away and roads are closed and flooded. As some
providers are driving 200 miles to get gas for their generators,
they know they will never recoup the premiums paid for equipment,
fuel and overtime for their employees. In the end, their bottom
lines will suffer, but their patients will not. Patients appreciate
the midnight [deliveries] and 6 a.m. equipment replacement, the
instructions [given] by flashlight and the hard work that goes with
working under horrible conditions.

“When Congress looks at Medicare’s budget and decides
to cap oxygen reimbursements and cut 9.5 percent off the top of
equipment providers’ gross income, what they do not see is the
ongoing service of dedicated professionals who even in times of
crisis, work tirelessly for their patients. Even when there has not
been a storm or disaster, medical equipment providers are available
24 hours a day to help and ease the lives of their patients
…

“It is everyone’s hope that the tragedy that is the
post-Ike situation in Greater Houston will remind Congress of the
great importance that medical equipment providers play in the daily
lives of patients nationwide.”