3 major Q2 updates changing provider behavior
legislation
Concentrating on High-Value Alzheimer’s Needs to Get to an End
(May 10, 2018)—From MAMES: “The Midwest Association for Medical Equipment & Supplies (MAMES) members converged on Des Moines, Iowa April 25-27 for the 2018 MAMES Spring Excellence in HME Convention and Exhibition with the highest attendance for a MAMES Spring Convention since 2011. And based on the attendee surveys they provided they were happy they came. For the second consecutive event MAMES attendees rated the event a perfect 4.0 rating.
Act provides transitional payments for therapies.
MCKINNEY, Texas (February 12, 2018)—Soleo Health, an innovative leader in specialty infusion services, announced today it strongly supports Congress’ passing of a transitional payment for home infusion services in H.R. 1892, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which was signed into law this weeks.
Act requires HHS Secretary to develop strategy to support family caregivers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 9, 2018)—AARP welcomes passage in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives of the bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act (H.R. 3759). The legislation, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and in the U.S. House by Representatives Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), requires the U.S.
MCKINNEY, Texas (December 18, 2017)—Home infusion stakeholders have been urging lawmakers to include the Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Access Act of 2017 (S 1738) or Section 101 of Medicare Part B Improvement Act of 2017 (HR 3178) in any end-of-year legislative package to ensure Medicare beneficiaries can continue to receive life-sustaining infusion therapies in their homes.
Focus remains on competitive bidding reform.
ATLANTA (October 24, 2017)—American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) team members expressed empathy and optimism on day two of Medtrade at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
“When I see people going out of business after 30 years, 20 years—second and third generation—it gets to me,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO, AAHomecare, during the organization’s Washington Update on Tuesday morning. “It gets to our team. That’s why we fight every day.”
The bill would protect manual accessories from bidding-derived pricing and has strong bipartisan support.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 12, 2017)—Representatives Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) and John Larson (D-Conn) introduced legislation on Monday to exempt accessories for manual CRT wheelchairs from bidding-derived pricing with a strong, bipartisan roster of 42 original co-sponsors (23 Democrats, 19 Republicans). HR 3730 would complement earlier CMS action exempting accessories for group 3 power wheelchairs from bidding-derived pricing.
New legislation builds upon previous prior authorization legislation.
Via AAHomecare—WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 17, 2017)—We have just received confirmation that Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has formally introduced legislation that would require prior authorization for certain home medical equipment items in higher price ranges. The formal title for HR 2445 will be the DMEPOS Access and Transparency Act of 2017, and may also be referred to as the DATA Act of 2017.
The resource describes the problems surrounding PBMs and how to fix them.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 25, 2017)—The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has released a new resource that documents for policymakers, patients and the media the discrepancy between what pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) say, and the actual effect they have in driving up prescription drug prices in America.
Don't miss your chance to inform Congress of industry struggles and needs
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 27, 2017)—Each year the HME community comes together in Washington, D.C. to advocate and strengthen relationships in Congress. It is a critical gathering, made stronger by greater numbers of participants demonstrating how important our relatively small share of the Medicare budget is to the entire health care continuum.
After serving the homecare and hospice community for over three decades, the Association looks to the future.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 13, 2017) — As the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) celebrates its 35th birthday, we reflect fondly on our many accomplishments, but even more do we look forward to facing the challenges ahead.
The latest round of legislation looks to roll back cuts made by competitive bidding.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 9, 2017)—Legislation to prevent the application of bidding-derived pricing for CRT accessories was introduced in the Senate and House last week. The Senate bill, S. 486, introduced by lead sponsors Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and its House companion, H.R. 1361, introduced by Reps. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) and John Larson (D-Conn.) both show strong bipartisan support from initial co-sponsors.
Via VGM Group—WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 8, 2016)—On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate has passed the 21st Century Cures Act, meaning that the legislation will be heading to President Obama’s desk to be signed. After overwhelming passage in the House last week, the Senate passed the legislation by an overwhelming majority of 94–5. The president has declared his support for the legislation in his weekly address.
Trump Names Rep. Tom Price as Next HHS Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), a fierce critic of the Affordable Care Act and a proponent of overhauling the nation’s entitlement programs, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. (Amy Goldstein and Phillip Rucker/Washington Post)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 29, 2016)—The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare—a coalition of home health providers dedicated to improving the integrity, quality and efficiency of home health care for our nation's seniors—commended Congressmen Tom Price, MD (R-GA) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), as well as original cosponsors Reps.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (September 15, 2016)—Four United States Senators have introduced bipartisan legislation to boost transparency in Medicare Part D drug spending and to prohibit retroactive “DIR fees” in response to concerns raised by National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) members and staff.