WASHINGTON, DC – Industry leaders Andrea Stark, Cara Bachenheimer, Asela Cuervo, and Kim Brummett met with CMS to continue to pursue changes related to allowing Medicare beneficiaries to choose to select luxury or deluxe items over standard versions and only pay the difference.
The meeting was the third in the last year to continue to request that CMS allow this type of transaction to occur. The original instructions in 2001 allowed for beneficiaries to exercise this right, however over time the interpretation has been altered to limit or completely remove this ability.
With the roll out of competitive bidding pricing to the entire country and the mandatory assignment requirement in the current competitive bidding areas, the ability of patients to be able to choose luxury options will only become that much more challenging. AAHomecare will continue to work with CMS on this issue.
Action on Competitive Bidding Coming Soon; Your Support Needed Today
WASHINGTON, DC – Negotiations on Capitol Hill are at a critical stage as we seek to get legislation introduced to mitigate the effects of proposed application of bidding-derived rates to non-bid areas.
If you have not yet added your name to the 4,000+ letters that have gone to the Hill on this issue, go to PowerOfHomecare.com and send a message to Congress, and please share that link with colleagues, friends, and social media outlets.
You can also follow up with a call to the healthcare legislative assistant for your Senators and Representative telling them what significant, bidding derived cuts will mean for your business and patients. You can find Congressional contact information here, and more perspective via the issue brief (link below).
