Atlantic Coast Medical Equipment Services Association

Hey ACMESA Members! Check out our June E-News regarding NC Medicaid launching Tailored Plans on July 1.

Read the full newsletter here:

ACMESA - June Blast ACMESA values our ongoing relationship with the Medicaid Department and appreciates their communication, which we are pleased to share with our members. Please see the information provided below:

Hey ACMESA Members! Check out our June Newsletter here: https://www.atlanticcoastmesa.org/page-1075381

Hey ACMESA Members! Have you checked out our May Newsletter? Read it here:

ACMESA - Authorization required

Join ACMESA at the Tampa Mega Workshop on May 2, 2024 for a full day of in-depth presentations and tips on everything from submission to appeals. The morning begins with Medicare updates followed by a review of standard documentation requirements. The documentation requirements session is broken into two tracks: a DME-based overview and an orthotics and prosthetics (O & P) overview. You can choose three afternoon sessions that will best fit your needs. Open to all JB and JC suppliers of DME. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot now!

For more information on location, schedule and to register here: https://cgsmedicare.com/jb/education/tampa_2024.html

Hey ACMESA! Check our out April Newsletter and Upcoming Events:

ACMESA - April Newsletter Home health, hospice, private duty, and HME providers are routinely subject to audits of all kinds; including by MACs, SMRCs, RACs, and UPICS. The purpose of this teleconference is to help providers respond successfully to all types of audits. What is the first step providers should take to respond....

ACMESA News: Phishing Alert & This Week's MEDTRADE Expo + Conference!

Read more here:

ACMESA - ACMESA Alert - March NC DHHS has received notification of an email phishing attempt targeted at Durable Medical Equipment/Prosthetics & Orthotics Suppliers (DME/POS) providers. All providers should be aware and vigilant of phishing attempts.

ACMESA Alert: Change Healthcare Cyberattack - Update Billing Agent and Apply for Hardship Advances

Additional Provider Flexibilities to Support Providers During Change Healthcare Disruption.

Read the full article here:

ACMESA - ACMESA Alert NC Medicaid continues to monitor the network interruption with Change Healthcare related to cybersecurity and the resulting decision to disconnect systems while the issue is resolved.

Hey ACMESA members! Did you catch our March E-News? Incase you missed it - check it out here:

ACMESA - March Newsletter On Saturday,  that, in addition to considering applications for accelerated payments for Medicare Part A providers, the Agency will also consider applications for advance payments for Part B suppliers impacted by the Change Healthcare/Optum Payment Disruption (CHOPD).

Message from Brightree: Change Healthcare Network Interruption Update Webinars

As you are aware, we continue to experience a network interruption due to the Change Healthcare cybersecurity event that occurred on February 21. We have been working diligently to better understand the implications of this disruption and we are participating in daily update conference calls with Change Healthcare. We invite you to join Brightree leaders as they share with you our learnings and the actions we’ve taken as we work to remediate this network interruption as soon as possible.

Your participation in one of the two webinar sessions below is highly encouraged. We are committed to keeping you informed and will be addressing some of the most common questions we’re hearing from you, our valued customers.

Change Healthcare network interruption update
Option #1 | Feb 29 | 2:00 p.m. EST
https://go.brightree.com/OTYzLUFTUi0xMzIAAAGRkFNTYruQacqVHl3830MEYD8CXnzGIlnvUVSV9ApRO-FHHwuaE6JaNQhx7tPrTJ5TI9wlRvY

Change Healthcare network interruption updateOption #2 | March 1 | 11:00 a.m. EST
https://brightree.zoom.us/j/92802800615?pwd=ZDJLUC82akF5R2Q0MXh2d24rTStoUT09&mkt_tok=OTYzLUFTUi0xMzIAAAGRkFNTYq0Aa9NOavPamLbH7a3vcWI6dG7Ap3pZOvSqg8fkULvpuoDhv54BSH2B61dnym8aCNfXgJyccZL9SX4

We appreciate your continued patience and understanding as we navigate through Change Healthcare’s issue. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our customer support team at [email protected].

brightree.zoom.us

We can always count on VGM Government Relations for continued support! Thank you for being part of the team!

Thank you to Beth Bowen and the entire team at ACMESA for organizing an outstanding conference! Your dedication to advancing the HME industry is truly commendable. The VGM Government Relations team is proud to stand alongside our industry partners working together as Champions of Change for the industry.

Thank you AAHomecare for the below information!

Please take a moment to reach out to your elected officials in Washington with this urgent request. Also, do what you can to restore the rate cuts retroactively to January 1, 2024 when the Medicare budget issues are under consideration as the businesses.

HME Leaders Continue to Raise the Urgency on 75/25 Provisions on Capitol Hill
AAHomecare’s lobbying team and other HME stakeholders remain engaged in advocating for including extended 75/25 blended-rate relief among healthcare provisions in government spending packages needed in advance of March 1 and March 8 funding deadlines. HHS funding is subject to the March 8 deadline.

In a recent message, AAHomecare President & CEO Tom Ryan asked leaders in our industry to:

Please make a direct request, by email and/or phone call, to healthcare staffers for your Senators and Representatives.

Ask that the Senator/ Representative reach out to leadership in their respective chambers in support of including DMEPOS relief in non-rural areas among healthcare provisions in the next government funding legislative package.
Additional language and messaging guidance for contacting your legislators can be found at the bottom of this post.

You can also note that cuts have already taken effect and share how they are impacting your ability to support your patients. You can bolster your arguments with figures from this analysis of the cuts across 25 major HCPCS codes in your emails and calls (specifically using the figures from the far right column: 2024 v. 2023 non-rural rates).

Reach out to Gordon Barnes at [email protected] for healthcare staff contact information and any other assistance you need in crafting and delivering your message.

HME advocates can also add to the 5,000+ messages sent in support of extending the 75/25 relief using our Voter Voice advocacy tool. You can edit the pre-drafted letter to include more details about your company and patients, as well as how the disconnect between current reimbursement rates and rising product and operational costs are affecting your business and your patients.
Ryan’s note concluded:

Your determined grassroots advocacy has brought us to the doorstep of achieving substantial relief for HME and is directly supporting our current round-the-clock lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. Let’s kick the door down over these next two weeks and bring home a major win for HME!

TAKE ACTION TODAY: https://aahomecare.org/Federal-Legislation
https://mcusercontent.com/3c0f3755f13930464597f245a/files/5d550433-0b83-3528-7037-ca7a16eab3fe/2024_National_Fee_Schedule_Analysis_Public.pdf

mcusercontent.com

State leaders came together at VGM for a conference this week to benefit ACMESA and here is what attendee Sharon Pruitt had to say:

Super Excited I was able to attend the 2024 VGM State Leaders Summit in Waterloo Iowa this week! Time well spent with state association leaders and VGM collaborating on new ways to bring value to ALL members in our state. Thank you to VGM, Ike Isaacson, John Gallagher, Craig Douglas, Ronda Buhrmester, Alan Morris, Shelby Graveman, Mandi Rodgers, Kim Cuce’ and Ethan Tanner for being awesome hosts! Looking forward to the 2025 Summit!

❤️ Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors ❤️

As Valentine's Day fills the air with love and appreciation, we wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to you, our cherished sponsors. Your commitment to our cause has not only helped us achieve our goals but has also inspired us to dream bigger, reach farther, and make a difference that truly matters. Your unwavering support has been the heartbeat of our endeavors, and today, we not only want to say Happy Valentine's Day, we wanted to send a quick note of appreciation!

If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact us today!

*Platinum Sponsors*
Philips Respironics
VGM & Associates

*Gold Sponsors*
ACU-Serve Corp.
Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
ResMed
Used Handicap Vans - Van Products Mobility

*Silver Sponsors*
Allegiance Group
Brightree
Compass Health
McKesson Corporation
Medbill

*Bronze Sponsors*
Cleanwaste Medical
GEMCO Medical
Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation
Nonin Medical, Inc.
O2 Concepts
Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company
Pride Mobility Products Corp.
Prochant
React Health
Strategic Office Support Inc.
WellCare

ACMESA Attendees & Exhibitors:

The contact lists have been emailed to all registered attendees and exhibitors on Friday, (Feb 9). Please check your spam/junk folders and reach out if you have not received it! Another blast will go out February 16 with the updated registration list.

If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time! Register at: https://www.atlanticcoastmesa.org/sys/website/system-pages/?pageId=1075142

Attention! Government Funding Bill Excludes 75/25 Blended Rate Relief for HME Suppliers

WE NEED TO MAKE NOISE FOR THIS RELIEF

As reported, unfortunately we did not get either of the relief bills attached to the latest short term spending bill and they continuing resolution However, the good news is that we have one more chance as the current funding package will only last until March 1.

MAKE MORE NOISE!

We need to draw attention to this issue. NOW!! See below for a link to AAHomecare's Voter Voice with a message already entered for you to send to Congress. Please send this message as it will go to different representatives based on where you live. And send to STAFF and have them do it as well.

WE MUST BE HEARD!

AAHomecare Link:

https://www.votervoice.net/AAHomecare/Campaigns/109695/Respond

HME Business Article:
https://hme-business.com/government-funding-bill-excludes-75-25-blended-rate-relief-for-hme-suppliers/

Government Funding Bill Excludes 75/25 Blended Rate Relief for HME Suppliers - HME Business The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) announced that the House of Representatives’ latest short-term spending bill did not include the 75/25 blended rate legislation that would have provided funding relief for home medical equipment (HME) suppliers. The spending bill, which was passed...

Happy Holidays ACMESA!

Check out our Critical Updates for 2024: https://www.atlanticcoastmesa.org/page-1075372

AAHomecare announced yesterday in a blast that the DMEPOS CY 2024 CPI-U increase range is from 2.6%-3%. CMS has published the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) adjustments for the Calendar Year 2024 DMEPOS fee schedule. The CPI-U is 3%, however, the inflation adjustment differs depending on whether the item has been included in the competitive bidding program (CBP) and whether the patient’s zip code is in a former competitive bidding area (CBA).

Read the full newsletter here:

ACMESA - December Newsletter

Register now for the Medtrade Expo + Conference on March 26-28, 2024 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas!

Medtrade is the largest home medical equipment trade show and conference in the US. Medtrade features a large expo floor filled with the leading home medical equipment manufacturers, HME technology, and personal health products. Hundreds of HME manufacturers and thousands of HME providers join us each year for the largest annual sourcing opportunity for home medical equipment, and find the HME products to satisfy today’s growing demand in an ever-changing environment.

Register here:

Medtrade 2024

Amended Version of H.R 5555 Clears Energy and Commerce Committee

The House Energy & Commerce Committee has just approved an amended version of H.R. 5555 that extends the 75/25 blended rate in non-CBAs through 2024 but does not include the 90/10 blended rate adjustment for suppliers in former CBAs. The action is a positive development for securing a 75/25 blended rate as part of expected appropriations bills early next year. The Senate Finance Committee included similar 75/25 language from S. 1294 in a health package in November.

Check out the amended version here:

mcusercontent.com

ACMESA News: Medicare coverage criteria for A4353 - Immunosuppressed beneficiaries meeting criteria 2 - Read the full article here:

ACMESA - November Newsletter

Hey ACMESA, did you hear?

DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program: Change to Provider Enrollment Appeals and Rebuttals Contractor Effective: October 9, 2023.

Read our full newsletter here:

ACMESA - October Newsletter Effective Monday, October 9, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) replaced the provider enrollment appeals and rebuttals contractor from the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) to Chags Health Information Technology LLC (C-HIT). The NSC will review and decide on appeals and reb...

Register now for the 2023 Virtual Washington Legislative Conference on September 20th! You must register by September 6th!

The stakes are HUGE – the worst results could devastate the remaining local providers – there would be a 42% cut on oxygen!!

AAHomecare will once again host the Virtual Washington Legislative Conference, giving HME stakeholders the opportunity to speak with legislators about pressing issues for the homecare community. Will you add your voice in support of HME policy priorities?

Register here: https://www.aahomecare.org/events/2/washington-legislati
Pricing: $129 members/$149 non-members

For sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to Sue Mairena at [email protected].

ACMESA and AAHomecare invite you to participate in a nationwide survey to quantify the cost pressures affecting the HME community! Take the survey by September 8: https://aahomecare.checkbox.com/hme-market-impact-survey-2023

The survey focuses on suppliers who provide home oxygen equipment, CPAP devices, and/or hospital beds to end users and assess the cost increases for products, labor, and deliveries as well as address other key operational pain points. This is a great opportunity for the Industry to quantify the need for sustainable relief, and we encourage all members who provide any of these products to participate.

Survey

Are you having as much fun as we are at the ACMESA Annual Meeting? Drop your pictures in the comments! Check out the fun!

Hey ACMESA! Click on the link below to see our latest updates! Some topics include:

- Medicaid Unwinding Resources
- Upcoming Partner Webinars
- CMS Releasing Calendar Year 2024 Home Health Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
- And so much more!

ACMESA - News & Info

ACMESA! If you haven’t yet asked your Senators to support S. 1294, legislation to extend Medicare relief for suppliers in non-CBA/non-rural areas, please visit our Medicare Reimbursement Legislative Campaign Central to learn more and take action. Keep in mind that non-CBA/non-rural rates affect other rates, including Medicaid rates in 20 states, TRICARE, and rates from other payers who follow Medicare rates.

Find more information here:

AAHomecare Medicare Reimbursement Legislation Campaign Central AAHomecare

Register today for the CGS Nashville Mega Workshop on August 31!

Join DME Provider Outreach and Education representatives at a live educational event in Nashville on August 31. This workshop is open to all DMEPOS suppliers and includes a full day of Medicare education.

DME MAC Jurisdictions B & C Nashville Mega Workshop August 31, 2023 Each year, CGS tries to host workshops in different cities throughout our service area. We select locations that provide you with easy access to the meeting, parking and local events.

Join us at the ACMESA 2023 Summer Meeting & Exhibit Show! 🌊

🗓 Date: August 16-17, 2023
📍 Location:
Holiday Inn Resort,
1706 N. Lumina Ave.
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480

Register now to secure your spot at ACMESA 2023 Summer Meeting & Exhibit Show. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity!

For more information and registration, visit: https://atlanticcoastmesa.org/event-4847214

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Hey ACMESA Members!

We are asking that you please ask your Senators to sign on as co-sponsors for this legislation. You can edit the draft letter through the link at the bottom of this post to include more details about your company and patients, as well as how the disconnect between current reimbursement rates and rising product and operational costs are affecting your business and your patients.

Ask Your Senators to Extend 75/25 Medicare Blended Rate Relief Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) are leading the effort to extend the Medicare 75/25 blended rate for non-rural, non-CBA suppliers through the end of 2024.  These HME champions recently introduced S.1294, which continues...

ACMESA members! We've got some exciting news to share!
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model, a groundbreaking primary care initiative that will revolutionize healthcare!

Access to top-notch primary care is crucial for better health outcomes and equitable healthcare for all. CMS recognizes this, which is why they're launching the MCP Model in eight states.

Review the detailed official press release here:

CMS Announces Multi-State Initiative to Strengthen Primary Care | CMS New Model Aims to Enhance Access and Quality of Primary Care, Improve Health System