WASHINGTON, DC – As HME providers and manufacturers seek better ways to improve patient outcomes, they are frustrated by reimbursement methodologies that lag behind innovations in products and services. To address this issue, AAHomecare has convened a new Hi Tech Work Group to develop strategies to encourage payors to consider alternate reimbursement models that will allow for increased payments for advanced technologies that lead to better clinical outcomes.
The group will focus on how the industry can work together to bring new technology into the market, enable the effective adoption and use of the technology within the HME and healthcare continuum, promote operational efficiencies, and make sure that providers are appropriately paid for effectively employing these new technologies.
“This work group is one more example of how the industry works together to help provide quality care in the home for the patients we collectively serve with our services and products,“ notes Maura Toole, director of Field Marketing with Philips Healthcare, who is chairing the group.
The new work group’s initial focus will be on examining new and emerging technologies that can deliver measurable benefits for both HME patients and payors, such as reduced readmissions, and strategizing on how to get payor groups to consider increased reimbursements or new payment models that take these improved outcomes into account.
The group, comprised of a cross-section of providers and manufacturers, had its initial conference call in mid-December and will continue to meet regularly. Contact Laura Williard at [email protected] for more information.
AAHomecare To Launch Member Discount Program for DMEPOS Accreditation
WASHINGTON, DC – Beginning this January, AAHomecare is pleased to offer a new benefit to our HME provider community: Member-only discounts on DMEPOS accreditation and related services provided by leading CMS-approved Accrediting Organizations (AOs) that are also members of AAHomecare.
DMEPOS accreditation delivers many outstanding benefits to providers beyond satisfying the CMS requirement for participation in Medicare. Accreditation helps ensure compliance with numerous CMS regulations, educates staff, and engenders quality processes and procedures across the board – all while demonstrating the provider’s commitment to excellence in patient care and sound business practices.
“We recognize the value and benefit of the accreditation process to so many of our members and are proud to partner with each of our member Accrediting Organizations to offer a variety of discounts geared toward helping our members gain this valuable designation at a reduced cost,” explains AAHomecare CEO Tom Ryan. “At a time when HME providers continue to face significant business challenges and uncertainty, we are excited to offer this new benefit to our provider community.”
More information on the DMEPOS Accreditation Discount Program will soon be available; see next week’s issue of Wednesday in Washington for details or ontact Mike Nicol at [email protected] for more information.
