WASHINGTON, DC – With so many renewals cropping up in January, officials at the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) are calling many familiar faces, while also making time to contact providers who have never been members.

The latest membership drive is the first under new president and CEO Tom Ryan (pictured), and with the new leadership comes an association that is more consolidated than ever.

“We are unified under AAHomecare as the only national association, and people realize that,” says Rob Brant, director of Industry Relations for AAHomecare. “And while we are actively calling potential members, it does not deter us from continuing to work hard on legislative and regulatory issues.”

Brant says the association’s efforts are going well so far, and he encourages potential members to contact AAHomecare via e-mail at [email protected]. An AAHomecare member will call back to discuss concerns and the benefits of membership.

Medicare Appeals Office Holding Meeting to Address Backlog
CMS’ Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) will hold a meeting on February 12 to discuss agency attempts to address the backlog at the administrative law judge (ALJ) level of the appeals process. The meeting will address initiatives OMHA is putting into place to help with the backlog, and well as those planned for the future.

OMHA is also soliciting input from those going through the appeals process on how to reduce the backlog and the Office’s attempts to do so, such as the new docketing system introduced in April 2013. The system holds assignment of most requests for hearings until the judges have an opening.

The Federal Register meeting notice states that this system allows “cases to be assigned more efficiently on a first in/first out basis as an Administrative Law Judge’s case docket is able to accommodate additional workload.” AAHomecare staff will attend the meeting next month.

Providers looking for the latest legislative wisdom (and so much more) should not miss Medtrade Spring, scheduled for March 10-12 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. This year, AAHomecare’s Washington Update is Tuesday, March 11, from 8:30 am – 9:45 am.

The update provides attendees with an opportunity to learn from and engage with AAHomecare’s team of legislative and regulatory experts on challenges and opportunities dealing with issues including the bidding program, aggressive audits, and documentation requirements for providers.

Find out what AAHomecare’s plans are for the future and how the Association will fight for its members as they fight for their businesses. Stay informed, stay involved. AAHomecare speakers to include: Tom Ryan, president, Jay Witter, vice president of government affairs, and Kim Brummett, senior director of regulatory affairs. Sponsored by: HME Business.  CLICK HERE to register for Medtrade Spring.