Patient Access Survey Enjoys Heavy Response

A recently released survey studying the impacts competitive bidding has had on patient access to needed HME has “significantly surpassed our original targets,” according to the American Association for Homecare, which commissioned the study.

To magnify that success, AAHomecare is continuing to call on more HME patients, case managers, discharge planners and providers to join the survey. To do so, participants should choose the most applicable survey option:

• Discharge planners and case managers.
• Patients.
• HME providers.

Healthcare research group Dobson DaVanzo & Associates was commissioned by AAHomecare to carry out the survey, which is collecting the participants’ input, and will then analyze the results and develop a report that. The aim was to generate enough data to provide results the association could then take to CMS and lawmakers to make strong arguments for regulatory and legislative changes to the program.

Because the survey has enjoyed so much success already, AAhomcare reports that Chairman Steve Ackerman and President and CEO Tom Ryan have been able to share “meaningful preliminary results with CMS staff. They were joined by staff from Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, as well as outside counsel from Foley & Hoag.

“CMS has asked us to share more results with them next week, and it is clear that additional input will strengthen and improve the report’s findings and credibility,” a statement from AAHomecare read. “Accordingly, we ask that you make an extra effort to share the survey with patients or case managers/discharge planners as soon as possible.”

The association thanked the providers, state association leaders, and other HME stakeholders who have helped publicize and promote the survey. It recommended that providers needing more information should contact Ashley Plauche, AAHomecare manager of government affairs, at [email protected].