WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 26, 2018)—This week, West Virginia’s Congressional delegation released a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma asking her to address their concerns regarding “the significant cost differences that rural providers face relative to their urban counterparts within the CBAs,” after those issues were not resolved in the DME-related interim final rule released in May.
patient access
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 8, 2018)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the agency’s first Rural Health Strategy intended to provide a proactive approach on health care issues to ensure that the nearly one in five individuals who live in rural America have access to high quality, affordable health care.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 3, 2018)—United Spinal Association, United Ostomy Associations of America and Spina Bifida Association partnered with AAHomecare on a comprehensive white paper to articulate why competitive bidding should not include urologicals and ostomy supplies. The white paper counters recent references to expanding the controversial bid program in the President’s Budget and MedPAC recommendations.
Via AAHomecare, WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 7, 2018)—Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) has scheduled a congressional staff briefing to discuss AAHomecare’s study on the effects of the bidding program on HME patients, discharge planners and suppliers, as well as a study published by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) highlighting access problems for oxygen patients.
—Via AAHomecare, WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 24, 2017)—While response totals for all three categories in the survey on patient access to HME have significantly surpassed our original targets, the survey remains open for additional participation from HME patients, case managers/discharge planners, as well as providers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 2, 2017)—AAHomecare’s Kim Brummett and Mina Uehara recently participated in a Government Accounting Office (GAO) interview regarding patient access in non-competitive bid areas and followed up with a letter to the Agency summarizing key points from the session. In discussing the effects on patient access since the 2016 cuts, AAHomecare notes:
—Via AAHomecare, WASHINGHTON,D.C. (July 27, 2017)—AAHomecare is beginning work on a major initiative to assess and report on patient access to HME in areas served by the competitive bidding program as well as in rural and non-bid areas.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 9, 2017)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today finalized rules governing home health agencies that will improve the quality of health care services for Medicare and Medicaid patients and strengthen patients’ rights. These Medicare and Medicaid Conditions of Participation are the minimum health and safety standards a home health agency must meet in order to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
WATERLOO, Iowa (June 30, 2016)—Advocacy group People for Quality Care is calling on HME providers to engage their patients in immediate advocacy. The organization joins the VGM Group, American Association for Homecare and state associations in a grassroots effort focused on garnering Congressional support for a joint solution to Medicare’s competitive bidding program by July 15.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 9, 2016)—When the Medicare program implements changes to how it pays for medical care or equipment, CMS monitors to make sure that any adjustments meet our goals of preserving access to care and facilitating better health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries.