Comments on: Medicare Reimbursement Information I http://healthcare-economist.com/2009/08/31/medicare-reimbursement-information-i/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:10:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael Reinemer, American Association for Homecare http://healthcare-economist.com/2009/08/31/medicare-reimbursement-information-i/comment-page-1/#comment-4585 Michael Reinemer, American Association for Homecare Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:48:28 +0000 http://healthcare-economist.com/?p=2726#comment-4585 With respect to oxygen and durable medical equipment, it's worth noting that Congress has already cut Medicare reimbursement rates for home oxygen therapy numerous times over the past 10 years -- in 1997 (BBA), 2003 (MMA), 2005 (DRA), and 2008 (MIPPA). Reimbursement rates have been cut by nearly 50 percent over the past decade, so those savings from the bid program have been realized already through congressional action. Today, Medicare pays about $6 per day to provide a senior with home oxygen therapy, which about one million Medicare beneficiaries depend on in order to breathe. For comparison, an average Medicare day in a hospital costs more than $5,000. Unfortunately, the law only allows Medicare to reimburse of oxygen devices and the oxygen itself, but not for most of the essential services required for furnishing home oxygen therapy in the homes of seniors with COPD and other severe lung diseases. A similar history of cuts have been applied to durable medical equipment. According to the most recent National Health Expenditures data from CMS (2006-2007), the durable medical or home medical equipment sector is growing at less than one percent per year, compared to more than six percent for Medicare overall. So clearly, oxygen and durable medical equipment generally are not major cost drivers in Medicare. In fact, home medical care is an essential part of the solution to Medicare's approaching funding crisis. See more information at the American Association for Homecare website, www.aahomecare.org/athome or www.aahomecare.org/oxygen. With respect to oxygen and durable medical equipment, it’s worth noting that Congress has already cut Medicare reimbursement rates for home oxygen therapy numerous times over the past 10 years — in 1997 (BBA), 2003 (MMA), 2005 (DRA), and 2008 (MIPPA). Reimbursement rates have been cut by nearly 50 percent over the past decade, so those savings from the bid program have been realized already through congressional action. Today, Medicare pays about $6 per day to provide a senior with home oxygen therapy, which about one million Medicare beneficiaries depend on in order to breathe. For comparison, an average Medicare day in a hospital costs more than $5,000. Unfortunately, the law only allows Medicare to reimburse of oxygen devices and the oxygen itself, but not for most of the essential services required for furnishing home oxygen therapy in the homes of seniors with COPD and other severe lung diseases.

A similar history of cuts have been applied to durable medical equipment. According to the most recent National Health Expenditures data from CMS (2006-2007), the durable medical or home medical equipment sector is growing at less than one percent per year, compared to more than six percent for Medicare overall. So clearly, oxygen and durable medical equipment generally are not major cost drivers in Medicare. In fact, home medical care is an essential part of the solution to Medicare’s approaching funding crisis.

See more information at the American Association for Homecare website, http://www.aahomecare.org/athome or http://www.aahomecare.org/oxygen.

]]> By: Ben Kulow http://healthcare-economist.com/2009/08/31/medicare-reimbursement-information-i/comment-page-1/#comment-4584 Ben Kulow Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:27:10 +0000 http://healthcare-economist.com/?p=2726#comment-4584 I appreciate you writing on this this week! I appreciate you writing on this this week!

]]> By: Betsy http://healthcare-economist.com/2009/08/31/medicare-reimbursement-information-i/comment-page-1/#comment-4583 Betsy Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:18:38 +0000 http://healthcare-economist.com/?p=2726#comment-4583 Here is a quote from this article, found in the next to last bullet. "Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) are used for short-term inpatient skilled care a hospital stay." I do not understand this sentence. It looks like a word was left out of inadvertently. Please clarify. Thank you for this detail & the opportunity to interact. Betsy Here is a quote from this article, found in the next to last bullet. “Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) are used for short-term inpatient skilled care a hospital stay.”

I do not understand this sentence. It looks like a word was left out of inadvertently. Please clarify.

Thank you for this detail & the opportunity to interact.

Betsy

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