I have yet to find this July 6 statement from CMS, but everything I have read about it makes it sound like a rehash of the press release CMS issued on July 2. You can get that and future press releases straight from the horse's mouth here:
Media Release Database Press Releases
Further analysis on that and future press releases here:
BMA ADVisor |
In short, in response to overwhelming complaint and the sudden realization that thousands of patients may loose access to their HME and home oxygen, CMS issued the most recent press releases. They say that they will continue to pay claims as they always have, but the claims certified by non-PECOS docs are still illegal as of July 1 or July 6!!!! CMS was put in a tough spot by recent regulations that wanted to hurry up with some of their plans for PECOS, but that's a weak excuse considering all the pointless and unfair problems they are causing to home medical equipment and home health care providers. At this point, CMS is basically paying all claims as normal to avert a major backlash from health care providers and patients, but they are reserving the right to pick you off one by one in the future. They'll pay you now for claims that they have made illegal, and CMS reserves the right to come get you for false claims at any point in the future - even a couple of years down the road presumably.
This fight is by no means over. HME, home health, and medical associations must keep the pressure on CMS to handle PECOS implementation fairly. Work through your associations, but also go here for a step by step of what you as an individual citizen can do:
BMA ADVisor |
By the way, today marks the end of CMS's open comment period for this rule that doesn't pay HME or sets HME up for paybacks, so get your comments in tonight if you can. More info on how to comment to CMS is in this article:
New Medicare Rule Could Cut Your Business by 40% | BMA ADVisor