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Get behind HME Audit Key

Get behind HME Audit Key

Providers are handicapped by an overwhelming number of rubber stamp denials coming from the Medicare audit system. Not only do these denials threaten businesses, especially smaller ones, but more importantly, they're jeopardizing critical care for patients. We've all heard the anecdotes, but we need hard facts to prove that patients and small businesses are being hung out to dry in the ALJ claim backlog.

AAHomecare is doing something about documenting this problem with the introduction of the HME Audit Key. The HME Audit Key is a way for providers to anonymously show how audits are hurting their business without fear of reprisal from contractors. Using a password protected survey tool, providers will be able to track and share their audits safely and securely with the same third party that the American Hospital Association trusts with its audit data.

Here's what you need to know about this initiative:

• Once the system is built, tested and launched, audit data will be collected on a quarterly basis from HME providers.

• Collecting this data will enable AAHomecare to advocate for common sense reforms using strong data and facts, rather than self-reported numbers and anecdotes.

• The data will also be used to identify problematic trends in audit activity by contractor, product category and nationally. The reports will help providers benchmark their programs and focus on specific challenges.

• With your help, AAHomecare will use the HME Audit Key to analyze audit data trends and show policymakers why and where the audit system is broken.

The HME Audit Key is currently in Phase 2 beta testing by a select group of HME providers, using real data. After testing is complete, an early enrollment period will open to educate providers, encourage them to complete the registration process and start gathering the data they need to complete the survey. The full-scale launch is scheduled for some time in late May or early June.

The HME industry has never done a good job of collecting information to demonstrate its value or show the negative impact that various government policies have on our businesses and our patients. Sometimes it's because of a reluctance to share and other times it's because it's too much work.

This time needs to be different. I urge you to get behind this effort for the sake of your business and for the sake of the industry.

For more information, go to www.hmeauditkey.org/.

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