Supply Chain/Cost Issues Tools & Resources
Letter to Commercials Payers (February 2022) -- AAHomecare sent this letter to major commercial payers outlining the challenges of providing DME in today’s marketplace with increased costs of goods, labor, and shipping. The letter provides key stats on the pressures the HME community is facing and how without immediate intervention, it may become cost-prohibitive for suppliers to continue providing equipment, supplies and services, thus impacting patient access to care. Suppliers can share the letter with payers as part of their negotiations on reimbursements.
For articles and news segments covering this topic specifically relating to HME, AAHomecare has worked closely with a Communications firm and members of the industry on the following stories:
- Supply chain woes trigger shortages of critical medical devices, CalMatters - Nov. 22, 2021
- Rising prices for medical supplies hit homebound seniors, Spectrum News Albany - January 4, 2022
- Supply chain woes: How home care providers say issue is compromising patients' livelihood, Spectrum News 1 - January 27, 2022
Impact of COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions and Increased Costs on DME Suppliers (May 2020) -- AAHomecare surveyed the home medical equipment community on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their businesses. More than 500 HME suppliers responded with details on how the pandemic is impacting access to products on account of supply chain disruptions and rising prices from manufacturers and distributors. The survey results show a rapidly changing operational and product cost landscape that presents significant challenges for an industry already dealing with unsustainable reimbursement rates from Medicare and other payer segments. The survey's results were summarized by leading healthcare research firm Dobson DaVanzo & Associates.