NEMEP (Northeast Medical Equipment Providers Association)
The NEMEP Virtual Conference and Trade Show is scheduled to start tomorrow (March 23, 2021). Click Here for more information about the show or contact Beth Bowen, executive director of ACMESA, at [email protected]. Click Here to register. There are ON DEMAND sessions as well for CEUs which are included (no limit) in the registration fee.
NY Dept of Health Updates Medical Policies
As of 3/10/2021, the NY Department of Health updated their medical policies (here) to be more in line with other payers, amounting to a cost savings for New York providers. NEMEP had been pushing for better proof of delivery policies. Now, New York State Medicaid accepts electronic/faxed signatures for prescriptions and providers no longer must have a patient’s “wet signature” for 3rd party deliveries.
MAMES (Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services)
Designed to fill the information, education, networking, and vendor interaction void this spring, the MAMES HME 2021: “Forward Together” Virtual Conference and Exhibit Hall is scheduled for April 13-15, 2021. Along with an interactive virtual exhibit hall, MAMES provider members have designed six live virtual sessions to answer critical questions. With the support of VGM & Associates, attendees have the opportunity to receive CEUs from a choice of 22 respiratory, rehab, billing/reimbursement, and HR/general on-demand courses.
“The support of our MAMES Associate Members, both as active members and of this event, cannot be understated.” said Rose Schafhauser (pictured), MAMES executive director. “Providing a great return on an exhibitors investment at a MAMES event is critical to the ability of MAMES to keep our provider attendee rates as low as possible, and the support of our exhibitors has been incredible.”
The MAMES HME 2021: “Forward Together” event is open (Register Here) to all HME providers. More information is available at www.mames.com or a full schedule of events brochure is available here. “MAMES is charging into 2021 with all hands on deck,” says Schafhauser. “The strength of MAMES has always been our active and engaged provider and associate members and the first quarter of 2021 has shown that strength once again with amazing participation in our committee structure which has worked to develop another incredible education, networking, and vendor interactive event.”
HOMES (Home Medical Equipment Services Association of New England)
WOBURN, MA – On March 16 the Maine Department of Health and Human Services released their MaineCare Comprehensive Rate System Evaluation Implementation Planning Report. This report is presented by Myers and Stauffer LC and is a follow up to their previous Benchmarking & Interim Rate Evaluation reports which included a number of concerning issues including: incomplete and inaccurate data; benchmarking of states with vastly different population and geography; and concerning elements to their pricing methodology.
HOMES and AAHomecare collaborated to submit comments on these concerns in December. The new Implementation Planning Report does not specifically address any of these concerns as it calls for an estimated reduction of $774,000 in the Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Supplies category. The HOMES team is currently working to coordinate a response to MaineCare and request additional information on which HCPC codes are expected to be impacted.
In Massachusetts providers are preparing for the April 1 implementation of Integra as a Third-Party Administrator (TPA) for Senior Whole Health DMEPOS services. Providers in MA have expressed serious concerns about the impact that Integra will have on the reimbursement rates, provider operations, and the SWH network of providers. The HOMES office has been communicating with representatives from the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Senior Whole Health Network Development team and has secured a meeting to discuss the specific concerns of the provider network in MA. The meeting is currently scheduled for March 24 and the HOMES office is currently soliciting feedback from providers. For more information, contact the HOMES office at 866-466-3190 or email Jason Morin (pictured) directly at [email protected]
SWMESA (Southwest Medical Equipment Suppliers Association)
SWMESA is hosting an open HME networking session on Thursday, March 25th. SWMESA representes HME providers and sssociate members in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The bi-monthly Networking Session on Thursday, March 25, starts at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time/10:30 a.m. Central Time. HME Providers from across Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas are invited to attend this virtual zoom networking event. Get the latest legislative, regulatory, and state level news and network with peers from across the southwest to discuss the pandemic and other business challenges. Contact the SWMESA office: [email protected] to RSVP and receive the link to the call. For more information, contact Rose Schafhauser, executive director, SWMESA [email protected]
ACMESA (Atlantic Coast Medical Equipment Services Association)
PPP and Taxes – Virginia Gets Good News: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam recently signed tax conformity legislation, dubbed HB 1935 and SB 1146. This conformity change goes into effect immediately and is retroactive due to an emergency clause. Click Here for a Link to HB 1935 / SB 1146.
The Virginia Department of Taxation released Tax Bulletin 21-4 containing important information about Virginia income tax returns. Members may review the bulletin for additional information, and accountants in particular will be using this guidance when assisting with filing taxes this year.
West Virginia Also Gets Relief
WV tax relief information is found HERE and Gov. Justice signed an executive order waiving state tax on PPP loans. North Carolina Still Hopeful for PPP Tax Relief. CONTACT YOUR MEMBER TODAY to encourage support by visiting the NCGA look up – FIND MY LEGISLATOR HERE.
Background
In 2020, the Federal Government provided forgivable PPP loans to small businesses. These loans were a lifeline during the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency, and countless small businesses wouldn’t have survived without them. The IRS has ruled that: 1) there will be no federal tax for forgiven loans; 2) small business owners may deduct business expenses paid for with PPP funds; and 3) all is retroactive to 2020.
ACMESA’s membership has been on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle, providing oxygen, ventilators, and other home medical equipment that enabled patients to stay in their homes and eliminate overcrowding in hospitals. These are primarily small businesses that received PPP loans, which protected access to HME for North Carolinians. Taxing these forgivable loans would present an undue hardship and could put patient access in jeopardy. Click HERE for ACMESA’s PPP position paper
There are two Senate Bills that would provide tax relief on forgivable loans for North Carolina small businesses: SB112 and SB104. SB 112 is for 2020 tax year only. The membership of ACMESA should urge the Legislature to align any such legislation exactly with the federal tax policy, to include all three of the above provisions. These bills would help ACMESA NC members if passed, so contact your member today to encourage support by visiting the NCGA look up – FIND MY LEGISLATOR HERE.
UPDATE: Sources say that it’s still on the table. For consideration though is the price tag of $700M which will cause this to be part of the budget process. Some say they are trying to also eliminate personal income tax and/or franchise tax, but can this be done while also waiving PPP tax or is this double dipping? PPP relief is “one time” and the other relief is on-going. Bottom line – LET THEM HEAR FROM YOU TODAY. There is a coalition pushing hard for passage and ACMESA is working with this group as well. Read a copy of their letter here.
Calling All CRT Providers
ACMESA is working to form a committee with ALL CRT providers in NC, VA and WV. Reach out to [email protected] to get your name on the list. Any employee from your company can participate as long as your company is an ACMESA 2021 member! We we set up a regular call schedule to make sure all CRT needs are being met.
Pediatric CRT Needs in NC
Also, we are in search of pediatric CRT providers for referrals from UNC Homecare who get referrals from all over the state of NC. Please reach out to [email protected] if you provide pediatric rehab equipment and what counties you service. We will help make the connection so these patients can be served. Thank you!
