WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 2, 2012—Last Monday AAHomecare hosted a teleconference for HME providers to discuss H.R. 6490, the “Medicare DMEPOS Market Pricing Program Act of 2012.” More than 150 home medical equipment providers participated in the teleconference. The bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep.
Alan Dupuis
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 27, 2012—The Stand Up for Homecare campaign is the HME sector’s most important way to raise funds to help expand positive awareness about homecare and our issues in Washington.
Washington, D.C., Sept. 27, 2012—Now that a bill, H.R. 6490, has been introduced in the House to enact the Market Pricing Program, we all need to line up support in the House and the Senate. While there is no companion bill in the Senate, it’s still important to talk to all lawmakers about the need to replace the existing bidding system.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2012—The AAHomecare Medical Supplies Council has tackled several critical issues in recent months. Members of the Council and AAHomecare commented on the proposed application of inherent reasonableness (the ability for CMS to adjust reimbursement rates) for diabetic testing supplies furnished in a retail setting.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2012—Stakeholders are hopeful that eleventh-hour changes will smooth Medicare’s new prior authorization process for beneficiaries who have prescriptions for power wheelchairs.
WASHINGTON, DC, September 21, 2012—The American Association for Homecare applauds a bipartisan bill introduced today in the House of Representatives that would implement market-based pricing for home medical equipment and services such as oxygen therapy, wheelchairs, and other durable medical equipment that allow Medicare beneficiaries to remain safe and independent at home.
ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 5, 2012—As has been reported, Rep. Tom Price, M.D. (R-Ga.) has agreed to introduce a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to replace the Medicare bidding program with the Market Pricing Program (MPP). This is an important step forward in stopping the current bidding program and replacing it with a market-based system that will not interfere with patients’ access to home medical equipment and services.
ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 4, 2012—On Tuesday, Sept. 11, Tammy Zelenko, CEO of AdvaCare Home Services in Pittsburgh, will represent the American Association for Homecare as she testifies before the Small Business Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology.
ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 27, 2012—Months of discussion with Congressman Tom Price (R-Ga.) involving both the American Association for Homecare and the Georgia Association of Medical Equipment Services (GAMES) culminated last week in Dr. Price’s signaling his support for the Market Pricing Program (MPP) and his willingness to introduce legislation in the House of Representatives.
ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 22, 2012—AAHomecare continues to challenge the product category composition for the competitive bidding recompete for the nine initial areas, specifically focused on the practicality of bidding external infusion pumps.
AAHomecare has voiced strong concerns to CMS regarding a recent DME MAC policy change for refills of “non-consumable” DME supplies. In a letter to the Agency on Monday AAHomecare called on CMS to direct the DME MACs to rescind the policy, characterizing it as “arbitrary, vague and unworkable.”
WATERLOO, Iowa, Aug. 13, 2012—A study released last Monday reveals that calling the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) results in at least a five-minute wait before a human voice is heard. Independent accounting firm Hogan-Hansen PC conducted the study for Last Chance for Patient Choice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending competitive bidding for home medical equipment, and the American Association for Homecare.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2012—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) is disappointed that Medicare is implementing a prior authorization program for power wheelchairs without including a key component. Physicians, providers and advocates for disabled Americans insist that patient care will be jeopardized without a clinical template to help physicians document a patient's medical need for mobility assistance.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2012—Last Monday representatives from the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) met with U.S. Department of Treasury and IRS staff to discuss the medical device tax, which was included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
WASHINGTON, July 3, 2012—HME providers worked alongside first responders to ensure the safety of the elderly and disabled during the recent extreme weather and power outages that struck much of the nation, the American Association for Homecare reported.
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2012—The American Association for Homecare (www.aahomecare.org) has provided comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) saying the agency should require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce the audit burden and improve the quality and utility of the information its contractors collect.
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2012—The American Association for Homecare reported that House and Senate leaders reached an agreement on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safety and Innovation Act, which includes a measure to improve the regulation of medical gases.
WASHINGTON, June 8, 2012—The American Association for Homecare is bringing attention to a report by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) suggesting that Medicare is denying far too many DMEPOS claims because of technical problems with documentation.
Tyler Wilson, president of AAHomecare, said the report shows that the documentation process for Medicare reimbursements must be addressed in a substantial way.
PASADENA, Calif., June 1, 2012—Auction experts at the prestigious California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have published an academic paper concluding that Medicare’s Competitive Bidding Program is based upon a flawed design that will be difficult to fix.
The American Association for Homecare last week announced support for the Medical Gases Safety Act, a measure that would improve the regulation of medical gases by allowing the FDA to establish rules outside the New Drug Application (NDA) process.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) last Tuesday published in the Federal Register a request for comments on the power mobility devices prior authorization demonstration project. The 30-day public comment period is open through June 28. The American Association for Homecare noted that the project is likely to start after Aug. 1 since CMS intends to notify providers at least 30 days prior to beginning the demonstration.
The American Association for Homecare expressed “grave concern” last week to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) over new product categories devised for the Competitive Bidding Program’s Round 1 Recompete.