Something to root for
By Mike Moran
Updated Wed February 4, 2009
Powder video AAHomecare announced this week that it has formed the New Oxygen Coalition (NOC) to "resolve issues" related to reforming the Medicare oxygen benefit.
Bugsy Malone movie download As you know, AAHomecare and the CQRC shared their plans for reform with state associations and other industry stakeholders in January. The response wasn't exactly rousing. While nearly all stakeholders agree that the oxygen benefit needs to be reformed, they disagree on how it should be done.
Hence, the NOC and the need to "resolve issues."
As I've been told, here are the main differences between the reform plans floating out there:
AAHomecare and the CQRC are touting a case mixed adjusted payment system used by home health agencies and other providers. Under the system, providers would get reimbursed on a sliding scale based on patient ambulation. Reimbursement would then be further adjusted based on needs, such as high liter flow.
The other plans on the table also reimburse providers based on ambulation. But they don't further adjust reimbursement based on needs specific.
Proponents of the second plan believe the more simple a payment methodology, the better the chances of winning widespread support. And with widespread support, the better chances of implementation sooner rather than later, providing relief to providers who are now suffering in a post-cap environment.
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Do you think these groups will get on the same page?
One provider told me: "I'm rooting for it. I don't want to see a riff. Our industry looks terrible right now.
Liz Beaulieu
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