The State Leaders Council of the American Association for Homecare, which is comprised of leaders form the various state HME associations, has formed a Work Group to develop strategies for dealing with the provision in recently passed CURES legislation that limits the federal portion of Medicaid spending to competitive bidding prices for affected DEM items, starting in 2018.
The Work Group is investigating how much flexibility states have in Medicaid rate-setting under the CURES Act, as well as how the industry can educate state Medicaid directors about their options under the new law. The messaging crafted by the Work Group will clarify the states’ level of autonomy in determining their rates, and reinforce the value of HME as a cost-effective healthcare asset that delivers better patient outcomes.
“We’re excited to expand the focus of AAHomecare’s partnership with our local HME associations to tackle increasing state issues facing our members as a result of the changes mandated in the CURES Act that affect Medicaid reimbursement,” said Kam Yuricich, who, in addition to chairing the Work Group and the State Leaders Council, serves as the Executive Director for the Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers and the Great Lakes Home Medical Services Association. “This is truly when strong coordinated team work matters for our members.”
AAHomecare is also engaging with the National Association for Medicaid Directors about the impact of the CURES-mandated provision on Medicaid programs, and what states can do to overcome shortages created by the federal portion of the Medicaid budget. A statement from the association said it will work with the new Administration and key committees of jurisdiction to determine how this program will work for the Medicaid programs and the potential impact on Medicaid Managed Care plans.