Washington Update, July 14, 2009
American Association for Homecare
- House Healthcare Reform Bill Includes More Hardships for Oxygen Providers
- First-Month Option is Eliminated for Standard Power Wheelchairs in House Bill
House Healthcare Reform Bill Includes More Hardships for Oxygen Providers
Today key committees in the House of Representatives unveiled a new health care reform package, American's Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200). This version of legislation is likely to be "marked up" by House committees later this week. The legislation does include provisions that impact the home medical equipment industry, but does not include additional payment reductions to home oxygen therapy. Instead the package:
Today key committees in the House of Representatives unveiled a new health care reform package, American's Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200). This version of legislation is likely to be "marked up" by House committees later this week. The legislation does include provisions that impact the home medical equipment industry, but does not include additional payment reductions to home oxygen therapy. Instead the package:
- Requires the oxygen supplier in month 27 of the 36-month rental period to continue to supply oxygen during the period of medical need through the end of the useful lifetime, regardless of the patient's location, unless another supplier accepts responsibility for the patient. The bill makes this provision effective on the date of enactment of the bill.
- Restores a new 36-month rental period for patients in the case that the supplier is declared bankrupt and its assets are liquidated. The patient must have at least 24 months of rental payments to qualify for a new rental period.
- Waives the surety bond requirement for pharmacies that have had a DME supplier number for at least 5 years and have never had a final adverse action imposed.
- Exempts pharmacies that supply diabetic testing supplies, canes, and crutches from DME accreditation.
These provisions do not address the fundamental flaws of the oxygen benefit that are addressed in the oxygen reform bill anticipated to be released today by Representatives Mike Ross (D-Ark.) and Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.). The oxygen reform package from Congressmen Ross and Meek:
· Repeals the 36-month cap on oxygen.
· Is budget-neutral, so total Medicare dollars for oxygen therapy do not change.
· Pulls oxygen therapy out of competitive bidding.
· Requires in the law recognition of the essential services that are part of home oxygen therapy.
The Association is reviewing the 1,018 pages of legislation and will provide further analysis in the near future.
First-Month Option is Eliminated for Standard Power Wheelchairs in House Bill
The House bill also includes provisions related to power wheelchairs and the first-month purchase option. The legislation maintains the purchase option for group 3 power wheelchairs and above, however the purchase option would be eliminated for standard power wheelchairs. While we are pleased to see that Congress recognizes the purchase option is necessary, we maintain that it is necessary for all power wheelchairs.
American Association for Homecare
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