ATLANTA – With the help of Georgia legislators, AAHomecare and the Georgia Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (GAMES) recently secured a rate floor for DME using regulatory authority. Laura Williard (pictured), vice president of payer relations for AAHomecare and state legislative chair for GAMES, worked closely with Peachtree Government Relations and helped organize two lobby days in the state to educate government officials on reimbursement challenges providers face.
The effort, which began in earnest last fall, ensures that the Medicaid CMO plans pay 100% of Medicaid fee schedule. The rate floor was added into the new RFP for the CMO, Georgia’s MCO plans, beginning July 1, 2024 – but could be delayed if contracts are protested by the plans not chosen.
The GAMES Board and Legislative Committee provided strategic direction, secured funding for lobbying efforts, and mobilized its membership for grassroots advocacy in support of establishing the rate floor.
“It was gratifying to see Georgia legislators support our efforts in working with Georgia Department of Community Health to get this important protection for DME providers in the state,” notes Williard. “The partnership between GAMES and AAHomecare helped drive this successful effort. It is a model we hope to use when working with other states to get the rate floor implemented through regulatory channels.”
“We are delighted to announce this significant triumph for GAMES and the patients we serve. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Peachtree Government Relations, our lobbyist firm, for their unwavering support, said Jeremy Killough, GAMES Board president. “We also extend our sincere thanks to the GAMES board, with a special recognition of our dedicated legislative chair, Laura Williard, and the Executive Director for Medical Assistance Plans, Lynnette Rhodes. Our team’s tireless efforts have brought home an extraordinary victory for the DME industry, underlining our commitment to enhancing patient care and accessibility to essential medical equipment.”
