Wednesday in Washington - American Association for Homecare, September 14, 2005

Main Category: Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 17 Sep 2005 - 23:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Joining Hands for Katrina Relief -

Through conversations with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), other federal agencies, and Members of Congress, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) is discussing crucial information and communication gaps affecting the homecare community as it copes with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

There are now several resources for homecare providers to submit or request medical records for patients impacted by Katrina who have relocated to other parts of the country. The Department of Labor created a hotline for job assistance questions and is sponsoring a Katrina recovery job seeker website for workers and employers impacted by the hurricane. The Department of Commerce also has a new toll-free line for Katrina questions. Information and key contacts for these and other valuable resources are available in the Hurricane Katrina section of the AAHomecare website (http://www.aahomecare.org).

Members of Congress are working hard to protect Americans affected by the hurricane. They are tackling issues including healthcare, labor, and housing on a number of different fronts. On September 9, a letter signed by 118 Representatives, including our own homecare provider Congressman Mike Ross (D-Ark.), was sent urging Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to abandon proposed Medicaid cuts in the budget reconciliation legislation to avoid damage to the already-strained healthcare system. A copy of the letter is available on the AAHomecare Web site Hurricane Katrina page (http://www.aahomecare.org).

Hobson-Tanner Bill Gains Ground

Grassroots work done by AAHomecare members throughout August is beginning to take hold in Washington. Congressmen are starting to sign onto the Hobson-Tanner bill (H.R. 3559). Introduced on July 28, 2005, by Rep. David L. Hobson (R-Ohio) and Rep. John S. Tanner (D-Tenn.), the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Access Act of 2005 would remedy many of the restrictive contracting (aka competitive bidding) provisions of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.

While Members of Congress were in their home states, our AAHomecare State Leaders coordinated efforts for the August recess. Homecare providers set up meetings with their Representatives to urge them to sign onto the Hobson-Tanner bill. To date, the Congressional Record reflects the following:

Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.)
Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-NH)
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.)
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.)
Rep. Paul E. Gillmor (R-Ohio)
Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa)
Rep. John M. McHugh (R-NY)
Rep. Michael H. Michaud (D-Maine)
Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)
Rep. Jim Nussle (R-Iowa)
Rep. John W. Olver (D-Mass.)
Rep. David E. Price (D-NC)
Rep. Patrick J. Tiberi (R-Ohio)

Power Mobility Industry and Other Stakeholders Concerned about New Policy

CMS hosted a Special Open Door Forum on the recently published interim final rule regarding the Medicare Conditions for Payment of Power Wheelchairs and Power-Operated Vehicles on Tuesday, September 13, 2005. The interim final rule is a major departure from the previous policy, and many industry leaders participated in the Open Door Forum to express a number of concerns necessitating a delay in implementation. Late this afternoon (Wednesday, September 14, 2005), CMS also issued refinements to the HCPCS codes, performance standards, and testing requirements for power mobility devices to become effective January 1, 2006 (see cms.hhs.gov/suppliers/dmepos), and the DMERCs posted their Local Coverage Determination (LCD) and policy article for Power Mobility Devices for comment (see cignagovernmentservices.com/articles/sept05/cope2975_2.html). AAHomecare's Rehab/Assistive Technology Council (RATC) is in the process of reviewing the latest proposals and will be providing comments.

AAHomecare, Industry Leaders Present CMS with Alternative to "Gap-Filling" Methodology

AAHomecare commissioned a study from Muse & and Associates on "Power Wheelchair Pricing Trends and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Gap-Filling Methodology." This study highlights the significant problems with the current gap-filling methodology to set new allowables under the new power wheelchair and POV codes. It provides a reasonable alternative that CMS should use to ensure appropriate pricing for these products and other DMEPOS items that will need to have Medicare allowables established in the future. AAHomecare, along with its membership, presented the gap-filling report during a meeting with CMS officials on Wednesday, September 14, 2005. For an Executive Summary of the report, visit http://www.aahomecare.org. AAHomecare Membership Provides Clinical Input on Home Oxygen Regulation

AAHomecare, along with other stakeholders, is submitting comments to CMS on September 16, 2005 on an internally-generated CMS review of the National Coverage Determination (NCD) on Home Use of Oxygen. Medicare's current national policy on the home use of oxygen has been in effect since October 27, 1993. It allows for coverage of home oxygen for patients with oxygen partial pressure measurements at or below 55 mmHg or oxygen saturation at or below 88%. If certain other diseases/conditions are present, an oxygen partial pressure of 56-60 mmHg or an oxygen saturation of 89% are permitted. The CMS national coverage determination reconsideration was generated to determine if there is sufficient evidence to change the current policy for beneficiaries having arterial oxygen partial pressure measurements in the range of 56-65 mmHg. "What is most important," says AAHomecare President & CEO Kay Cox, "is that patients in need of oxygen, particularly those in the CMS Group II classification, continue to receive adequate coverage." Beyond the scope of the current coverage criteria, AAHomecare supports the expansion of the Group II coverage to include patients with PaO2 of up to 65 mmHg. AAHomecare comments were developed through its Home Medical Equipment and Respiratory Therapy (HME/RT) Advisory Council, an internal group composed of experienced clinical professionals, including respiratory therapists and nurses, and will be available online at cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewtrackingsheet.asp?id=169 after close of business on Friday, September 16, 2005.

Save the Date for These Important Upcoming Events

Last chance to register: September 26-27 PAOC Meeting, Friday, September 16 (by 5:00pm Eastern Time). Send name, telephone number, email address (if applicable), company name and address to sean.dalenberg@cms.hhs.gov or Sean Dalenberg, Mailstop C5-08-27, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore MD 21244. Also please note, the meeting location has been changed to the Hilton Hotel, 1726 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, Maryland, 21208, Telephone 410-653-1100, Fax 410-415-6232. For more details, see cms.hhs.gov/suppliers/dmepos/compbid/paoc.asp.

CMS Open Door Forums: Pharmaceutical, Pharmacy and Device Manufacturers on September 15, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. (EDT), Dial 1-800-837-1935 & reference ID 2865504; Home Health, Hospice & DME, September 22, 2:00 p.m. (EDT), Dial 1-800-837-1935 & reference ID 2865479; Special Open Door Forum: Recovery Audit Contractors: 3 Year Demonstration Project, Wednesday, September 21, 3:00-5:00 pm (EDT), Dial 1-800-837-1935 & reference ID 8654772 (to attend this one in person, or for other information, see http://www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoor).

American Association for Homecare,
625 Slaters Lane,
Suite 200,
Alexandria, VA,
22314
AAHomecare at (703) 836-6263 http://www.aahomecare.org

• Additional
• References
• Citations