Tag: Medicaid

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...

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...

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – NCART has come right out of the gate in 2022 to work on Medicaid issues, including protecting reimbursement for complex rehab.  The association, through its CRT Payer Relations Committee, is working on various issues in at least 10 different states, including California and Illinois, where legislation has been introduced to recognize and protect the specialized nature of complex rehab.  “That issue is going to continue to be a part of our priority...

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on June 29 signed S594, a bill that creates a rate floor for durable medical equipment, ACMESA and AAHomecare report.  Per the legislation, reimbursement for DME will be set at 100% of the lesser of the supplier’s usual and customary rate or the maximum allowable Medicaid fee-for-service rates for DME and supplies, orthotics and prosthetics.  The legislation, which went into effect July 1, protects rate floor provisions for...

WASHINGTON – CMS has named Daniel Tsai as Deputy Administrator and Director of Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, effective July 6. Tsai will lead the Center’s efforts to address disparities in health equity and serving the needs of the record 80 million children, pregnant people, parents, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. “As someone who has successfully led a state Medicaid program to focus on value-based care for its recipients, Dan brings invaluable experience...

WASHINGTON – CMS has announced a 90-day suspension of scheduled Medicare cuts to accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs, NCART reports.  That extends an 18-month suspension that would have expired on July 1 to Oct. 1.  “They will use this time for further analysis and, hopefully, a permanent suspension,” Don Clayback, executive director of NCART, tweeted today. “Thank you advocates, Congress and CMS.”  On Monday, a letter led...

WASHINGTON – A record more than 80 million individuals now have health coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), according to a new Enrollment Trends Snapshot Report that CMS released this week.  Nearly 9.9 million individuals, a 13.9% increase, enrolled in coverage between February 2020, the month before the public health emergency was declared, and January 2021, according to the report, which is released monthly.  “This report...

AAHomecare has worked with TexMEP and other stakeholders to get three bills introduced in the state legislature on rate stability and patient access to quality HME. HB 3679 would require Medicaid managed care organizations to reimburse providers at no less than 95% of the state’s published Medicaid DME fee schedule. HB 3678 would update the insurance code to support Medicaid continuity of care and patient choice language, and ensure adequate reimbursement. HB 3677 would amend...