Tag: aahomecare

WASHINGTON – As part of a new national campaign, AAHomecare is asking industry stakeholders to use the recent CPI-U adjustments to the Medicare fee schedule as a talking point with state Medicaid programs to increase their rates.  CMS in December published a fee schedule reflecting 6.4% to 9.1% CPI-U adjustments, prompting AAHomecare to develop a template letter that stakeholders can personalize and share with state Medicaid programs to help provide a “rationale” for...

RICHMOND, Va. – The Atlantic Coast Medical Equipment Services Association (ACMESA), along with AAHomecare, is asking stakeholders in Virginia to contact their lawmakers in the House and Senate to pass a budget amendment that would direct the state Medicaid program, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, to set reimbursement for DME at 100% of the Medicare rate in rural areas. “In recent years, the DME industry has seen significant cost increases due to supply chain issues, higher...

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare’s Payer Relations Team has begun a nationwide campaign to work with state/regional association leaders to better align state Medicaid rates with higher costs.  The association says HME providers are experiencing increasing product prices and operational costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, as well as ongoing inflation pressures.  “Our work will include requesting that rates reflect the 6.4%+ CPI-U increases granted by...

Industry scored major wins in an end-of-year spending bill  But, outside of annual updates, reimbursement relief in former competitive bidding areas has been elusive  Stakeholders are now working on a strategy for providing relief in those areas, but CMS’s plans for the next round of bidding is an obstacle  WASHINGTON – Industry stakeholders “left everything on the field” in December, paving the way for Congress to pass several HME-related provisions...

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers have released a draft of an omnibus legislative package that includes two major HME policy priorities: an extension for the 75/25 blended Medicare rate for non-CBA/non-rural suppliers through the end of 2023; and the prevention of across-the-board 4% Medicare cuts for 2023 and 2024 that would have been triggered by the application of provisions in 2010 “PAYGO” budget legislation.  Provisions from H.R. 6641, which would apply a 90/10 blended rate...

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare’s analysis of the top 24 DME items show an average rate increase of 6.4% for competitive bid items in bid areas, with a range of 5.1% to 7.5%.  Bid items in non-rural areas have an average increase of 8.7% (ranging from 6.3%-10.2%); and bid items in rural areas will increase 8.4% (ranging from 4.2%-8.9%).   CMS published the 2023 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule on Dec. 14. The fee schedule reflects the 6.4% to 9.1% CPI-U adjustments published earlier...

Congress must pass legislation to continue funding the government before the end of the year.  Stakeholders have been asking lawmakers to include any of a handful of priorities in their legislation, but most importantly reimbursement relief.  Industry’s key piece of legislation, H.R. 6641, currently has 26 co-sponsors.  WASHINGTON – Stakeholders are working down to the wire to get industry priorities included in any end-of-year spending packages that Congress...

WASHINGTON – With Congress required to pass legislation to extend the federal debt ceiling by Dec. 16 to avoid a government shutdown, industry stakeholders are urging providers to use the next few weeks to push for including competitive bidding relief.  AAHomecare says providers who haven’t done so should contact lawmakers and ask them to support H.R. 6441, which would extend a 90/10 blended reimbursement rate that’s currently in place for competitive bidding items in competitive...

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare strongly supported CMS’s proposed local coverage determination for continuous glucose monitors in recent submitted comments. The proposed LCD would, among other things, remove the requirement for multiple administration of insulin and frequent self-adjustments, and allow for telehealth visits in place of in-person visits. The association, however, has concerns about the ability of DMEPOS providers to collect documentation from prescriber medical records that’s...

BOSTON – AAHomecare, NCART and HOMES have joined forces to send a letter to leaders in the Massachusetts legislature opposing S. 3136, a bill aimed at expanding wheelchair warranty protections in the state. “While AAHomecare and our partners are committed to improving the wheelchair repair process to ensure consumers receive timely and quality repair services, the bill as currently written would place undue burdens on providers and manufacturers and, ultimately, reduce patient access...