In June of 2007, the Oregon State Legislature approved a reduction of 16.9% in the State Division of Medical Assistance Programs (DMAP / Medicaid) fee schedule for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics and Orthotics (DMEPOS). Care Medical & Rehabilitation Equipment, along with many other Home Medical Equipment providers appealed to legislators, and other stakeholders to not implement this reduction as it would significantly impact state Medicaid patient’s access to Home Medical Equipment. Our diligent efforts were initially unsuccessful and this reduction became effective November 1, 2007.
As a result of these drastic reductions, DMAP realized that many Durable Medical Equipment and Rehab Equipment providers were unable to provide equipment services for Medicare, Medicaid (DMAP), and Open Card fee-for-services DMAP clients. In January 2008, the DMAP/DMEPOS Committee negotiated with DMAP administration to apply provider’s 2008/2009 cost of living increases (COLI) to offset the 16.9% reduction so that valuable DME services may be restored to state Medicaid clients. The outcome of these negotiations resulted in the adjustment of a 4.5% reduced reimbursement from the 2006 Medicare Fee Schedule effective April 1, 2008. This allowed Home Medical Equipment providers to resume essential services to Medicare/Medicaid and DMAP open card beneficiaries.
Although this adjusted allocation maintains basic essential services, a 4.5% reduced allowable continues to be the limiting factor in providing rehabilitation services to our Medicare/Medicaid populations. Some of these services include: mobile service and repair, bariatric equipment, wheelchair seating and positioning products, and power mobility products. Care Medical Equipment and other Home Medical Equipment providers have appealed to the Director of Oregon’s Department of Human Services, and state legislators to restore funding for Home Medical Equipment to the pre-November 2007 reimbursement level (100% of the current Medicare allowable) for Home Medical Equipment & services.
Care Medical Equipment continues to develop relationships with our state elected officials, and sincerely encourage their participation in developing non partisan, cost effective, and patient centered healthcare policies that maintain patient’s access to essential medical equipment services. Home medical equipment continues to be the most cost effective medical resource available, and yet is suffering unsustainable reductions at both the national and state levels. We invite legislators for a tour to demonstrate the federal limitations, accreditation standards, labor intensiveness in processing orders, cost effectiveness of home medical equipment, and to explain why patient’s needs are not currently being met.
Please contact your state legislators, DMAP, and your caseworkers today to voice your concerns regarding patient’s access to home medical equipment and request that they reimburse providers at 100% of the Medicare allowable!
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CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR: You can obtain your local legislator(s) contact information by calling the Oregon Legislative Hotline
(800) 332-2313 or going online at www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
CONTACT DMAP CLIENT SERVICES UNIT: (800) 273-0557
CONTACT YOUR CASEWORKER
CONTACT THE EMERGENCY BOARD CHAIRPERSONS:
Senator Peter Courtney, Emergency Board Co-Chair
Phone: 503-986-1600 Email: sen.petercourtney@state.or.us
Rep. Jeff Merkley, Emergency Board Co-Chair
Phone: 503-986-1200 Email: rep.jeffmerkley@state.or.us
2008 Emergency Board Members Include:
Sen. Peter Courtney, Co-Chair
Rep. Jeff Merkley, Co-Chair
Sen. Alan C Bates
Sen. Margaret Carter
Sen. Betsy Johnson
Sen. Frank Morse
Sen. David Nelson
Sen. Kurt Schrader
Sen. Ben Westlund
Sen. Doug Whitsett
Sen. Jackie Winters
Rep. David Edwards
Rep. Larry Galizio
Rep. George Gilman
Rep. Bob Jenson
Rep. Susan Morgan
Rep. Nancy Nathanson
Rep. Mary Nolan
Rep. Chip Shields
Rep. Patti Smith
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