08/29/2018

REMINDER: Patients and Case Manager Survey Underway to Evaluate Sole Source Impact

Responses Requested by Sept. 30

Across the country, health care plans are looking for innovative, cost-effective solutions to meet members’ needs.  However, a developing trend across the payer landscape, particularly in the Medicaid MCO space, is the application of sole source contracts and narrow network arrangements for the provisions of HME and related services.  The HME industry and consumer groups have serious concerns about the shortcomings of such arrangements and the ultimate negative impact it will have on patients and payers alike.  
 
As part of the Industry’s educational efforts to payers, AAHomecare’s Medical Supplies Council is conducting a survey to evaluate its impact on beneficiary access to care. Beneficiaries and case managers in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Texas are invited to take a brief survey to share their experience if they’ve been impacted by Medicaid managed care sole source or narrow network contract(s) for HME products.  Information from these surveys will be used in outreach with payers to help preserve open access and ensure quality outcomes for individuals requiring HME, supplies, and services.  

Action needed:

• Please share these surveys with your patients and case managers to reveal potential issues associated with the limited contracts that impact choice and often affect access, service and quality of products.  We know HME providers are hearing complaints, but regulators and legislators are not, and information drives action.
• Click here for sample text you can use to distribute the surveys (tailored to both beneficiaries and case managers) including tips to be sure that everything is HIPAA compliant.

Feedback from affected patients and case managers is critical in prompting action through possible regulatory reform or legislation.  Survey responses are requested by September 30, 2018. 

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to contact Kam Yuricich at OAMES, kam@oames.org or Ashley Plauché at AAHomecare at ashleyp@aahomecare.org.