Medtrade West – If You Don’t Go, You Won’t Know

We like to talk about how much you can gain by attending Medtrade West, but on the flipside there is so much you miss if you don’t make the trip. For example, you will miss the opportunity to find a range of new and updated products that could well improve your company’s bottom line.   Once you find those products, you can speak to the manufacturer in person (at the booth) and get a feel for his/her integrity,...

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AAHomecare Statement on the Confirmation of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as CMS Administrator

The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) congratulates Chiquita Brooks-LaSure on her confirmation as CMS Administrator. Her experience in roles at CMS, HHS, and on Capitol Hill provide a solid foundation for her work leading Federal healthcare programs that support the health and well-being of millions of individuals in every community in America.

AAHomecare and the home medical equipment...

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Strong Ventilator Coverage Provisions Advance in Louisiana

On Wednesday, the Louisiana House of Representative passed HB 594, legislation to prevent insurers, MCOs, and other payers from setting reimbursement caps for ventilators. AAHomecare joined Louisiana HME stakeholders to support the legislation and helped convince key legislators to remove proposed amendments that could have capped costs for non-invasive ventilators and restricted HME suppliers’ ability to provide important service...

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Higher Product Costs and Supply Chain Bottlenecks Continue to Challenge HME 

Even as vaccination rates grow and new cases of COVID-19 are slowing nationwide, HME suppliers and manufacturers remain in the grip of another side effect of the pandemic: higher product costs and increased operational expenses.

HME suppliers first began seeing these impacts in early 2020, as demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) surged, with shortages and higher costs quickly following....

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Gambill Merits Promotion for Managing Broad Portfolio of Communications and Marketing Initiatives 

As the  Director of Marketing and Communications for AAHomecare, Tilly Gambill will expand her role strengthening the Association’s brand and national influence through traditional and social media channels as well as developing new and creative marketing campaigns. She is managing the public relations agency overseeing the development of a PR and social campaign around the Value...

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Thank Legislators Who Supported Legislation to Extend Moratorium on Medicare Sequester Cuts

On April 13, the House approved H.R. 1868, amended legislation extending the moratorium on the 2% Medicare sequester cuts through the 2021, adding in approximately $158 million more in Medicare payments to HME suppliers over the rest of the year. The updated bill passed the House by a 384 to 38 margin, echoing its overwhelming approval by the Senate in late March, with 90 in favor and just two against.

This...

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Help Medicaid Push Rate Stability Across the Finish Line in Florida! Action needed this week as THE Florida legislature is close to finalizing budget language

AAHomecare is working with Florida Alliance of Homecare Services (FAHCS) to advance legislation establishing rate stability and prevent self-referrals under their DMEPOS Medicaid program. The following is adapted from a call-to-action that we helped FAHCS develop.

We encourage all Florida DME providers and stakeholders to...

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It’s Time to Connect with Capitol Hill

While Capitol Hill buildings remain closed to the public and many staffers continue to work from home, Congressional offices are getting back to comparatively normal operations.  With that in mind, AAHomecare is encouraging providers to connect with House and Senate healthcare staff to tell them about your company’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic and ask for support on HME policy priorities.

“Congressional staff have...

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New Oxygen Fee Schedule Starting April 1

CMS has published the April 2021 DMEPOS fee schedule with the new oxygen rates that excludes the application of budget neutrality. This new change shows 5%-11% increase in oxygen products across the country.   Budget neutrality was originally introduced in 2006 to offset the increased utilization for oxygen generating portable equipment (OPGE) with lower reimbursement for stationary equipment. In 2019 CMS expanded budget neutrality to apply to...

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AAHomecare and NEMEP Push for Medicaid Rate Stability in New York

 AAHomecare is working with the Northeast Medical Equipment Providers Association (NEMEP) to support new legislation requiring Medicaid MCOs in New York to reimburse DME providers at no less than 100% of the state’s published Medicaid DME and CRT fee schedule.

A.5368 was introduced by Assembly member John McDonald III and co-sponsored by Assembly Member Richard Gottfried on February 16, 2021.  A Senate...

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