FODAC paves way with accreditation

ATLANTA - Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) recently received accreditation as a DME provider from the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA), paving the way for it to partner with other healthcare providers, says the nonprofit.

“For us to really have that credibility in the HME industry, we wanted to go through the same processes that DME companies are required to go through by HIPAA,” said CEO and President Chris Brand. “We wanted our partners to know we're not just a fledgling nonprofit doing the best we can.”

Founded in 1986, FODAC has provided more than $10 million in used DME and supplies donated by the community and out-of-business HME companies, which it stores in its 65,000-square-foot warehouse, to medically indigent patients at little or no cost. 

The nonprofit also provides HME equipment in disaster relief efforts the country. Most recently, it collected DME and supplies to support disaster relief efforts in Louisiana, which was swamped by two feet of rain in some areas. 

Although FODAC's No. 1 mission is to bridge the gap for indigent patients, the nonprofit has also found itself filling the gap left by providers leaving the industry due to reimbursement cuts.

FODAC used to maintain a waiting list for common DME items. Now it operates on a first come, first serve basis. 

“People were waiting six months, so that was no longer an effective service delivery model,” said Brand.

FODAC has already provided 7,000 items this year, and as time goes on, Brand says the demand will likely increase.

“As companies close their doors, they tell us, 'You're going to be getting a lot more calls now,'” he said. “And we sure have been.”