'Double dip': AAHomecare increases pressure

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare is asking lawmakers for relief from a “double-dip” oxygen cut in the 2017 Medicare fee schedule for stationary oxygen.

The move reinforces a letter that the association sent to previous leadership at CMS in December, asking the agency to recalculate its rates, which have dipped below competitive bidding rates in rural and non-bid areas.

“We would like to reinforce these efforts by generating congressional interest and support on the issues, as well,” the association states.

AAHomecare is also engaging the new leadership at CMS and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The association is calling HME providers to action, asking them to contact their members of Congress to educate them about the issue and have them contact CMS.

AAHomecare argues that CMS has improperly reduced payments for E1390 by applying a regulation introduced in 2006—called the budget neutrality offset—that only should be applied to unadjusted fee schedules. The association says the 2017 fee schedule for stationary oxygen must be consistent with those based on regional single payment amounts from competitive bidding areas.