[Cuda]

Your silence is deafening!
A message to all accrediting bodies.
We, the undersigned HME suppliers, have:
1.) Spent thousands of dollars in fees and preparation to become accredited.
2.) Spent countless hours, days and months preparing our business for accreditation.
3.) Continue to absorb expenses related to being accredited.
4.) Spend countless hours tracking and analyzing data.
5.) Spend countless hours on continued education.
6.) Spend countless hours writing and re-writing policy and procedure manuals.
7.) Revised our daily business processes to comply with hundreds of new standards.
We do agree that our business is better by becoming accredited and our patients are being provided the best quality of care that can be provided because of the changes we have made.
However, the HME industry is in complete turmoil due to the poor implementation of CMS’s PECOS system and the Round One Rebid. Both of these problems are causing Medicare beneficiaries to be either denied care and services or be denied access to care and services. We are under threat by CMS of having charges filed against us under the False Claim Act, so we have no choice but to turn beneficiaries away. The newly released Round One Rebid fees prove that no business can survive being paid for many items under cost, being locked into a price for three years when it is inevitable that our costs will increase. CMS states bid winners will make it up in volume. If we are a $1.00 in the red when we provide an item, we are $1,000.00 in the red when we provide that item to a thousand beneficiaries. As a result, HMEs across this nation will close and/or stop doing business with Medicare period. It is clear that CMS is out to destroy our industry at any cost to the Medicare beneficiary.
YOU have instilled in us the importance of quality patient care. You have instilled in us the importance of patient access. You constantly monitor us to assure that we follow your standards. To date, we have heard nothing from you that shows that you truly believe in the standards you have set. While patient care and access is threatened, you are silent. Do you really feel during these times that you are living up to your mission statements and vision statements?
“To continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.”
“All people always experience the safest, highest quality, best-value health care across all settings.”
“Representing the needs of the patients ultimately served and the quality of their interaction with our customers will be considered at all times.”
“This philosophy has not changed since inception, and XXXX is firmly committed to requiring what is right and best for the patient.”
THEREFORE, we the undersigned HME suppliers and Medicare beneficiaries request that you take to heart what you represent, stand up for what you believe and help stop the patient care and patient access issues that currently threaten Medicare beneficiaries.
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SEND COMPLETED PETITIONS TO: mailto:customerservice@achc.org mailto:ccarter@abcop.org mailto:FA@bocinternational.org mailto:info@chapinc.org Fax: 877.226.5564 Fax: (520) 318-1129 Fax: 877-226-5564 mailto:exec-office@nabp.net FAX: 215 654-9068 mailto:mlabson@jointcommission.org mailto:info@nbaos.org