California HME Update
Budget Update

 

The Budget Conference Committee is continuing its deliberations but there is no budget resolution in sight. The statutory deadline of June 15th has come and gone with most observers believing that the budget deal won't occur until August or perhaps even later.

 

The Governor's proposed Medi-Cal changes that would impact optional services like DME/medical supplies with dollar caps on services, e.g. $1806 per year for DME, are technically not in Conference Committee since both the Assembly and Senate rejected the changes. However nothing is safe until the final budget is put to bed. CAMPS will remain vigilant in opposing these caps on certain services and the elimination or coverage of oral enteral nutrition.


Fee-for-Service Provider Payment Delay

Below is the notice issued by DHCS on June 2 about the checkwrite delay for June. There may be additional checkwrite delays since there is authority for DHCS to implement them as a cash management tool. Be advised that the longer the budget delay goes, the higher the risk that the health Care Deposit Fund becomes exhausted. This is the fund used to pay Medi-Cal claims. The IOU phenomena occurs when the fund runs out of money to pay claims. We will keep you informed as this situation develops.
The last checkwrite in June 2010 will be delayed until the start of the next fiscal year that begins July 1, 2010. The delay of the checkwrite payment normally scheduled for June 24, 2010, will impact providers that render services to the following programs:
  • Medi-Cal
  • Abortion
  • Healthy Families
  • Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP)
  • California Children's Services (CCS)
  • Expanded Access to Primary Care (EAPC)
  • Genetically Handicapped Persons Program (GHPP)
The electronic funds transfer (EFT) settlement date for those affected by the checkwrite delay will be July 2, 2010. Providers that render services for Cancer Detection Programs: Every Woman Counts will not be affected by the checkwrite delay and will receive payments as normally scheduled.
DME PECOS Information Available Through the IVR

Per CMS Change Request 6421, claims will begin rejecting on January 03, 2011, if the ordering/referring entity is not listed in the Medicare Part A and Part B Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) as the type/specialty eligible to order/refer services for Medicare beneficiaries. NAS has developed an IVR tool that will also permit a supplier to inquire if their referral source is listed in PECOS by calling (877) 320-0390, Option 7 (Provider Enrollment) following the IVR At-A-Glance instructions.

 

Additionally, CMS maintains a PECOS listing at http://www.cms.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll - click on "Ordering/Referring Report" on the left-hand side. As information is made available regarding PECOS, NAS will publish this on Noridian's website, https://www.noridianmedicare.com/dme/news/pecos.html.


Town Hall Meetings: CAMPS Attendance Needed to Help Urge Additional Support of H.R. 3790

CAMPS has learned from the National Association of Independent Equipment Suppliers (NAIMES) that town hall meetings have been scheduled in Representatives Becerra and Stark's districts.  California is essential to the support of H.R. 3790, so we urge members in the Representative's districts to attend the town hall meetings.

NAIMES communicated to CAMPS that Pete Stark has been hearing a lot from the national organizations and that it would go a long way if local providers would hit home the message to co-sign H.R. 3790.

If you need help understanding the issue there are several resources on the CAMPS website, www.campsone.org and AAHomecare's website, www.aahomecare.org/.

If you attend one of these town hall meetings or have an opportunity to meet with another representative, please report back to CAMPS the outcome of your discussion.

Town Hall Meeting Detail

 

Official:            Rep. Becerra (D-CA-31st)

When:              06/26/2010

Starts:              11:00 AM

Until:               12:00 PM

Where: Lincoln Heights Senior Center, 2323 Workman Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031

Parking entrance off Daly between Broadway and Manitou. If you have any questions please feel free to contact 213-483-1425.

 

Official:            Rep. Becerra (D-CA-31st)

When:              06/26/2010

Starts:              2:00 PM

Until:                3:00 PM

 

Where: Frank del Olmo Elementary School, 100 North New Hampshire Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Underground parking available off 1st Street. If you have any questions please feel free to contact 213-483-1425.

 

Official:            Rep. Stark (D-CA-13th)

When:              06/26/2010

Starts:              9:00 AM

Until:               10:30 AM

Where: Fremont Senior Center, Wing A, 40086 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538

 

Official:            Rep. Stark (D-CA-13th)

When:              06/26/2010

Starts:              11:00 AM

Until:               12:30 PM

 

Where: San Leandro City Hall, Council Chambers, 835 East 14th Street, San Leandro, CA 94577

 

Official:            Rep. Davis (D-CA-53rd)

When:              07/03/2010

Starts:              1:30 PM

Until:                2:30 PM

 

Where: Spreckels Park, 7th Street, between Orange and C Street, Coronado, CA 92118

Share your thoughts, ideas and concerns directly with Susan across a table in a one-on-one format.

 

Official:            Rep. Sherman (D-CA-27th)

When:              07/11/2010

Starts:              2:30 PM

Until:                4:00 PM

Where: Reseda High School, 18230 Kittridge Street, Reseda, CA 91335


CMS Expected to Announce "Winning" Bids on June 25

AAHomecare recently reported that CMS is likely to announce "winning" bids for the Medicare bidding program on June 25.   Inside Health Policy, a regulatory newsletter, is also reporting that CMS will announce the single-payment amounts for the HME bidding program on June 25 and will be mailing contract offers to HME providers that qualify for the program. The newsletter states that, "By hitting the June 25 date, CMS could claim savings for the program before lawmakers leave for the July 4 recess."

VGM Competitive Bidding Seminar

August 17
9am - 4pm
Hampton Inn & Suites
12611 Memorial Way
Moreno Valley, CA

Cost: $229 for CAMPS members

Don't miss this vital training seminar! Let VGM coach you through the challenges of Competitive Bidding.The agenda of this one-day event includes:
  • Contractual obligations
  • Contract evaluation
  • Subcontracting
  • Acquiring a contract provider
  • Marketing your contract
  • Legislative update
Click here to view the brochure.


CAMPS Sponsors - VGM/U.S. Rehab RESNA ATP
Prep Course
 
November 3-4
Drexel University Campus
1 Capitol Mall, Suite 260
Sacramento, CA 95814-3229

Cost: $225 for CAMPS Members

This course will cover the following:
  • Anatomy, biomechanics and disability
  • Service delivery
  • Seating and wheeled mobility
  • AAC, EADL/ECU and computer technologies
  • AT for sensory impairments
  • Funding and legislation
  • Test-taking strategies
The valuable and comprehensive information presented will reinforce your knowledge base and experience, fill in the "gaps" in less familiar areas of assistive technology (AT) and provide indications for further study.

Click here for additional information.

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