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CAMPS Member Exclusive Insurance Program
Reference CAMPS when completing your VGM Insurance application, which is accessible online here. Or, call VGM's helpful staff at 1-800-362-3363.
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State Budget Deficit Impact to "Optional" Services
CAMPS reported in January that the Governor released his budget proposal for the fiscal year 2010-11 beginning July 1, 2010. The projected budget deficit is about $19.9 Billion over the next 18 months. At that time he called another special session to try to balance the budget deficit of about $7 Billion in the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.
In terms of the Medi-Cal program most of his proposals would impact eligibility and cost sharing as opposed to specific provider rate cuts. Since the Administration was unsuccessful on that front in the Courts they are not included this time around. The Governor has pointed out that California is not getting its fair share of federal dollars coming back based upon the money sent via federal taxes. Part of his budget solution is to get approximately $6 Billion in additional federal funds to balance the budget. If that money doesn't come he suggests a number of additional cuts to state programs including:
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Elimination of Healthy Families and IHSS programs
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Of interest to CAMPS would be the elimination of all Medi-Cal optional benefits that would include DME and disposable medical supplies. We have had this fight before and will make it again
There was an overview hearing last week by the full Senate Budget Committee on the Gov.'s suggestions for the mid-year spending corrections to be adopted in remaining 40 days of special session. Following are the specific Medi-Cal cuts that threaten to impact us:
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A second check-write delay in June for institutional providers, that's us unless you are licensed as a pharmacy, and delay payment into July. This has happened before only this time it doesn't make the same degree of savings. Since part of this delay would be for paying the increased federal stimulus portion of matching Medi-Cal the state would actually incur a fine of $38M for the delay in payment. Several Senators on both sides of the aisle questioned the logic of doing this again.
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DHCS provided some very broad language to allow them to change eligibility, benefits, and payment rates by amending their state Medicaid plan to achieve savings. That could be trouble and DHCS will likely need to provide more information before the Legislature would go anywhere near this.
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DHCS wants another $27M for antifraud effort in Medi-Cal, focus is on physicians and pharmacy, but includes re-enrolling all incontinent products and DME suppliers.
Nothing has been voted on yet, but these issues are in play. CAMPS is in the process of gather information from providers to help make the case that cutting these benefits is unreasonable. At this point we are looking for cost information for a typical Medi-Cal DME and Respiratory patient. If you would like to be part of that process please send cost scenarios by e-mail to Gloria Peterson at the CAMPS office, gpeterson@amgroup.us or by fax to 916.444.7462. |
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CAMPS/AMEPA Rally to Support HR 3790 to Repeal Competitive Bidding
The Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of America, Inc,(AMEPA), has arranged for a rally in South California to gain support of HR 3790 and has invited CAMPS to support this exciting event.
This is a great opportunity for CAMPS to expand its support of HR 3790 and gain awareness and support amongst our legislators.
California is a key state to gaining enough signatures for to move HR 3790 forward. Our state has 25 legislators in Southern California, which totals all of the legislators in Florida. California is also greater than all of the legislators in both Ohio and Pennsylvania and nearly double those in North Carolina. In order for HR-3790 to top 150 signatures we need the legislators from Southern California to sign this bill.
The rally is free!
Every DME, Respiratory, PWC, pharmacy and diabetic provider is encouraged to participate to learn the effects of Competitive Bidding, how to engage their legislators and unite for the benefit of all DME providers in California.
Date: Thursday, February 11th
Time: 10:00 AM and Noon
Place: Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Buena Park, California
(just outside of Anaheim)
7000 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
Tel: 714-522-7000
We hope you will attend and learn more about how you can support HR 3790. Click here for more information.
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Attend Your Town Hall Meeting and Ask for Support of HR 3790
Rep. Garamendi (D-CA-10th)
When: 02/18/2010
Starts: 06:00 PM
Until: 07:30 PM
Where: Suisun City Hall
701 Civic Center Boulevard
Suisun, CA 94585
Rep. McNerney (D-CA-11th)
When: 02/18/2010
Starts: 02:00 PM
Until: 03:30 PM
Where: Brentwood Chamber of Commerce
8440 Brentwood Boulevard
Suite C
Brentwood, CA 94513
Rep. Garamendi (D-CA-10th)
When: 02/19/2010
Starts: 06:00 PM
Until: 07:30 PM
Where: El Cerrito City Hall
10890 San Pablo Avenue
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Rep. Sherman (D-CA-27th)
When: 02/21/2010
Starts: 02:00 PM
Until: 03:30 PM
Where: Reseda High School
18230 Kittridge Street
Reseda, CA 91335
Contact Congressman Brad Sherman's office for more information: 5000 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 420, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 Phone: (818) 501-9200 * Fax: (818) 501-1554, E-mail: Sherman.personal@mail.house.gov
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CMS MLN Matters Special Edition Article: Medicare's DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program - A Better Way for Medicare to Pay for Medical Equipment
CMS recently release through
its MLN Matters a creative article about the benefits of Competitive
Bidding. CAMPS would like the provider
community to be aware of the article as you continue to gain support of HR 3790. You can access article at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1007.pdf. This is being distributed by Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to "educate" physicians, providers, and
suppliers submitting claims to the Medicare Program and provides an overview of
and the rationale for Medicare's Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical
Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS).
CAMPS does not support Competitive Bidding and is in favor of
HR 3790 that would repeal it. However,
we thought it important for the providers to be aware that this article exists.
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No Cuts to HME in Obama's Proposed 2011 Budget - Deliberation Now Shifts to Congress
According to the American Association for
Homecare, AAHomecare there appear to be no major cuts or policy changes
proposed for home medical equipment and services in President Obama's proposed
2011 federal budget, which he delivered to Congress earlier this week.
But this does not mean that HME cuts included in congressional reform proposals
are off the table.
This assessment is based on a preliminary review by the American Association
for Homecare of budget documents and administration comments made yesterday
afternoon.
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CAMPS Announces A Dynamic Seminars Teleconference Presentation - Strategies for Handling Complaints
Teleconference for Thursday, February 25, 11:30 am to 12:30pm ET with the industry's leading speaker and trainer Louis Feuer, MA, MSW. Bringing You Advice That Will Save You Customers and Money
$99 per phone line
Train an entire company for one low registration.
Competitive times, new reimbursement issues and the increased costs of reaching and keeping new customers, makes making sure we never lose a customer a priority. Complaints can be devastating to your business. Rarely does a problem or mistake happen just once. Although we may have only heard about the problem once, it probably has happened before.
This dynamic and important program, Strategies for Handling Complaints, is a must for your entire organization. Learn the key problems that frequently happen, strategies for fixing the problem. Learn how to insure positive rapport with the referral source and what consumer research indicates as the most irritating problems customers experience. Understand what angers referral sources and how you can make them a part of your quality improvement program. This program is about solutions and strategies. You have heard the complaints and now it's time to create a plan for making sure they never happen again.
This program is being presented by Louis Feuer, MA, MSW. As a former referral source, case manager, and director of social work in a 1300 bed facility, Louis will bring you new insights into the needs and requests of discharge planners and referral sources. Louis writes a monthly column in HomeCare Magazine, lectures extensively throughout the country and continues to be the highlight of many industry gatherings. He is outspoken, honest and continues to bring the industry strategies that have become an important resource for training!
Register today and create a breakfast or lunch time training program in your office, set the speaker phone on loud and that the team around the telephone. Make copies of the handout for every one to follow along or place the power point presentation you will receive on a screen in your office. Get ready for the most valuable training program you have ever attended. Register at www.DynamicSeminars.com or call a DSC Representative at 954-838-7504.
Louis Feuer, MA, MSW, Presdent
Dynamic Seminars & Consulting (Founded in 1977)
The leading source for sales, marketing and customer service training in the healthcare industry.
www.DynamicSeminars.com - 954-838-7504
www.DOESTraining.com for our new custom branded newsletters. Meet marketing guidelines with this new educational marketing product.
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