AAH outlines 2006 priorities

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare released in late March its advocacy priorities for 2006, with both the 36-month cap on Medicare oxygen reimbursement and national competitive bidding making the association's list. AAHomecare pledged to work to repeal the oxygen cap and to hold a summit meeting to address long-term solutions to oxygen reimbursement issues. (The summit will be held June 7-9 by invitation only and include a full-range of stakeholders.) The association also pledged to support H.R. 3559, a bill the industry believes will lessen the blow of competitive bidding, and to monitor the development of quality standards. For each of its 11 priorities, AAHomecare plans to employ a variety of strategies: expanding grassroots efforts, strengthening the industry's ties to patient and physician groups and educating Congress. AAHomecare's other priorities include: - Inhalation drug therapy dispensing fee: Collect data on the detrimental effects of fee cuts and submit data to CMS in advance of 2007 physician fee schedule. - Rehab and assistive technology: Ensure that power mobility codes and the local coverage determination preserve patient access to the most medically appropriate equipment, services and technology; educate Congress about gap filling; preserve first-month purchase option for power mobility; ensure that the final rule for PMDs provides for greater documentation clarity and physician education; and exempt rehab from national competitive bidding. - NSC/NPI issues: Continue to monitor provider issues with NSC and NPI, participate in comment periods and inform membership via the association's Web site and other communications. - DMERC/MAC transition: Continue to monitor advance payments, proof of delivery and other issues.