Tag: Laura Williard
AAHomecare promotes Williard
April 18, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has promoted Laura Williard to senior vice president of payer relations. “When we brought Laura on board to launch our payer relations program, I was very confident we were making a smart hire—but her contributions have proven to be even more significant than I expected,” said Tom Ryan, AAHomecare president & CEO. “Laura has made AAHomecare a force in advocating for HME at the state level and has increased our industry’s capacity to influence...
Stakeholders on Medicare Advantage: ‘We need an avenue to go to’
September 2, 2022Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – Industry stakeholders didn’t waste the opportunity to provide CMS with feedback on Medicare Advantage, telling the agency there’s an urgent need to improve oversight of the program.
Industry organizations, state and regional associations, and individual providers all submitted comments to a request for information before an Aug. 31 deadline, says Laura Williard, vice president of payer relations for AAHomecare.
“While there are some protections...
Providers push back against cuts by MCOs
March 12, 2021Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
COLUMBIA, S.C. – HME providers are fighting large managed care organizations that are increasingly pushing into more states and offering reduced reimbursement rates, say industry stakeholders.
The straw that’s breaking the camel’s back: The COVID-19 pandemic pushing the cost of doing business even higher, says Craig Douglas, vice president of payer and member relations for VGM.
“Acquisition...
Medicaid block grants: Make HME part of conversation, says Laura Williard
February 14, 2020Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - CMS in late January took a formal step toward so-called Medicaid block grants with Healthy Adult Opportunity, a pathway for states to receive capped federal funds to deliver and pay for healthcare services for able-bodied adult recipients under Medicaid.
Laura Williard, vice president of payer relations for AAHomecare, spoke with HME News about how this latest twist on Medicaid funding represents both challenges and opportunities.
HME News: What's your take on block grants?
Laura...
States continue to grapple with Cures Act
October 11, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - HME providers in California and Indiana have recently received reprieves from steep Medicaid cuts, but the discussion is going to be ongoing in those states and others as Medicaid programs still try to comply with the 21st Century Cures Act.
Per the Cures Act, passed in late 2016, the federal portion of Medicaid reimbursement for HME cannot exceed what Medicare allows. States can either base their Medicaid rates on Medicare's lowest fee schedule; or they can gather aggregated...
Williard named to OAMES board
August 8, 2019HME News Staff
WORTHINGTON, Ohio - The Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Services has appointed Laura Williard, vice president of payer relations for AAHomecare, to its board of directors as AAHomecare liaison. She will provide guidance to association leaders on payer issues on the state and national level with managed care plans, Medicare Advantage, commercial payers and state Medicaid programs. “Laura is a very influential addition to our advocacy team on payer policy,” said Kam Yuricich, executive...
Pro tips: How to work with state Medicaid programs
December 21, 2018Guest Commentary
Medicaid directors have a huge undertaking, ensuring their programs meet budgets, adhere to federal and state guidelines, and provide excellent patient outcomes. One of the rewarding aspects of my role at AAHomecare is that I have the opportunity to work with HME providers and industry stakeholders to educate them on how our services can help meet their overarching goal of providing excellent care to 73 million Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide.Access to care is an ongoing concern for all state Medicaid...
Payer relations: Cures Act, state toolkit on agenda for 2019
December 14, 2018Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - The past year has been a busy one for AAHomecare's Laura Williard: She met with 28 states about Medicaid rates. 2019 is shaping up to be just as busy, she says.
Per the 21st Century Cures Act, passed in late 2016, the federal portion of Medicaid reimbursement for HME cannot exceed what Medicare allows. States can either base their Medicaid rates on Medicare's lowest fee schedule; or they can gather aggregated data using their Medicaid rates and utilization rates by area...
Short takes from AAH: Ventec, Williard, supplier numbers
December 13, 2018HME News Staff
AAHomecare has a new corporate partner: Ventec Life Systems. The company, which makes the multi-function ventilator VOCSN, has joined the association to help advocate for respiratory suppliers and patients, with a particular interest in ensuring Medicare doesn't include vents in the next round of competitive bidding. “Competitive bidding reimbursement rates limit access to innovative technology for the sickest patients in home care,” said Chris Kiple, president and COO of Ventec. “Without...
Tenacity pays off in 10 states, and counting
March 19, 2018HME News Staff
In December 2016, Congress passed wide-ranging healthcare legislation popularly known as the Cures bill that expedited the implementation of a requirement that the federal portion of Medicaid reimbursement to states for HME cannot exceed what Medicare would have allowed for these items, in aggregate, beginning on Jan. 1, 2018.
CMS provided its first update to Medicaid directors via a webinar in December, but it failed to include information needed for states to understand how to implement the...