The American Association for Homecare has released a white paper concerning the use of sole source contracts for HME by various payers, including Medicaid MCO plans.
The document, How Sole Source & Narrow Network Contract Arrangements Lessen Patient Choice and Reduce Access, examines the problems arising from these arrangements, such as reduced patient and referral partner choice.
“These negative impacts include limiting clinicians’ ability to choose the products best suited to meet patient needs, reducing personalized patient service, and potential disruption to continuity of care, as evidenced by the Univita collapse in 2015 which stranded thousands of beneficiaries without access to HME and supplies,” a statement from AAHomecare read.
The whitepaper is the part of an assessment by AAHomecare’s Medical Supplies Council collaboration with the association’s HME/RT Council of the impact of sole source contracting and develop resources to educate payors and policymakers on how this approach affects patient access.
“The white paper is intended for use in working with MCO payors, Medicaid officials, and other stakeholders on the need to make sure that HME patients, their caregivers, and medical professionals have a robust network of providers to meet their needs,” the AAHomecare statement noted.
The whitepaper can be downloaded as a PDF at bit.ly/2DjHDmv.