THE RATES ARE IN AND FLORIDA WILL BE THE MOST HARMED STATE IN THE UNION WITH REIMBURSEMENT RATES LOWER THAN THE ACUTAL WHOLESALE COST OF EQUIPMENT.

Click Here to Find Bid Rate Results

http://www.dmecompetitivebid.com/palmetto/CBIC.nsf/docsCat/CBIC~Suppliers~Single%
20Payment%20Amounts?open&cat=CBIC~Suppliers~Single%20Payment%20Amounts

FAHCS has many concerns regarding the results of the 2010 Bid Program

 

ISSUE 1 – CMS AWARDED “SUICIDE BIDS” THAT WILL CAUSE RUIN.

No company that applied in any category made more than a 6% profit in the years prior to the bid, so no one can take a 40% cut in reimbursement rates and survive.

ISSUE 2 – CMS APPROVED RATES FAR BELOW ACUTAL COSTS-

Although CMS assured the government and providers they would not allow bids that were below the cost of equipment, CMS accepted bid that are below the actual wholesale cost of supplies. In categories such as liquid oxygen, entral feeding and more, the reimbursements are far to low for anyone to do anything but lose money.

ISSUE 3– CMS ALLOWED UNVIABLE AND FRAUDLENT COMPANIES TO WIN

Many of the companies that were awarded contracts did not have the finances to justify they could remain in businesses with or without the bid. Many companies that are viable, lost in the bid. In addition companies suspected of Fraud by virtue of the fact that they are on 100% pre paid audit and have records of 40% or more denial of claims, were awarded.

ISSUE 4 – CMS IS ALLOWING SAME DAY SERVICE TO DISAPPEAR

There is no way to make a profit in most of the categories, but the only sure way to create drastic savings in a medical equipment business is to eliminate same day service. Doing so will help control travel cost, but it will force many patients in need to go to emergency rooms and will keep hospitals bound patients in hospitals longer.

ISSUE 5 – CMS’ CUTS TO REIMBURSMENTS ARE MORE THAN PROJECTED

       OR VIABLE

The CMS reported 32% savings does not take into account the 9.5% cut taken 2 years ago as a temporary cut until a solution to competitive bidding could be found. Combined, the cut is actually 41.5% from the 2008 allowables. Diabetes rate is 64% below the 2008 allowable and the current rate for power wheel chair is at 70% of 2006 allowable. This is unsustainable and our government never intended such great cuts. In addition, removing complex rehab from the average (which is a limited category of specific providers), you get 36.25% before the 9.5% cut is added. Companies treading water with audits, slow pay, caps in wheel chair and oxygen and more, cannot survive with any one of these cuts.

ISSUE 6 – HOSPTIAL DISCHARGE DELAYS WILL DRIVE UP COSTS

Case manages and hospital discharge personnel will have to contact multiple HME companies to arrange equipment for discharge as opposed to calling one provider today. Remaining companies will plan at least 24 hour to arrange equipment resulting in patients remaining in hospitals longer, costing the government more money and causing problems for the hospitals.

All Providers in the State will suffer as Insurance companies pay a percentage of the Medicare reimbursements, which is in some cases more than 50% below current rates.

The rates are horrible, the amount of providers cut out of the system is horrible, but we believe, that working hard in a grassroots manner and with national organization such as AMEPA and AA Homecare, we can defeat the program because clearly CMS as over stepped its mandate.

HR 3790

We have a solution, a cost effective repeal of the program that keeps you working, keeps your patients serviced and keep our industry alive. HR 3790.

 

HR 3790 is the bill FAHCS helped draft, which meets all the goals of the bidding program without massive unemployment and a massive cost shift to the government from Part B to Part A care.  HR 3790 has the support of well over half of the US house of Representatives. We need our Senator, Senator Nelson, to sponsor the bill in the Senate

 

CALL SENATOR NELSON

Please call his office, tell them your story and urge the Senator to sponsor HR 3790.

 

Let them know the truth that without the bill passed:

• You will lose you company
• Your___ Employees will be jobless.
• Your____ Patients will lose their proper service.
• Nearly 3 Million Medicare Patients in Florida will lose Access to Care and Patient Choice
• The ___ Hospitals and Doctors you work with will not get the higher technology equipment they desire for patient.
• Same Day Service and Quality Service will be eliminated.
• NO American made equipment or products will be affordable  for American patients.

 

TELL HIM WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE, INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN MEEK  - HR 3790 – THAT CAN SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AND WE NEED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE BILL IN THE SENATE.

TELL HIM WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN MEEK - HR 3790 - THAT CAN SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AND WE NEED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE BILL IN THE SENATE.
 
Senator Nelson has eight offices throughout Florida and one in Washington, D.C. CALL YOUR LOCAL OFFICES AND CALL WASHINGTON

 

 

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