Coronavirus Response
Putting Patients First: Medicare Provides Flexibility for Home Respiratory Patients
Recognizing the important role home respiratory therapy has in treating patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and in reducing the number of low and medium acuity patients in hospitals during this pandemic, the Medicare program has issued guidance that provides greater flexibility to eliminate policy barriers that would make it more difficult for patients to receive these home therapies. In addition to providing coverage of, and reimbursement for, acute respiratory patients in the home, Medicare has suspended some paperwork requirements and audits during the public health emergency. CQRC supports these efforts that will allow suppliers to help more patients receive home respiratory therapy in the home and reduce the burden on patients and physicians/prescribers.
During this time, the member companies of CQRC are committed to servicing patients, their communities, and their country. This means making sure that patients who medically require home respiratory therapies (oxygen, positive airway pressure devices, and ventilators) have access to them. It also means making sure that the men and women who work directly with patients in their homes can continue to provide care and services without placing themselves or their families at increased risk. And, importantly, it means behaving ethically and responsibly during this unprecedented time.
CQRC members continue to strongly support eliminating fraud and abuse in the Medicare program. These efforts should be rational, balanced, and targeted to ensure that scarce Medicare funds are directed at activities that appropriately need to be curtailed. CQRC urges all home suppliers to exercise their best judgment and not use the relaxed guidance necessary to care for patients during this pandemic to try to justify fraudulent and/or abusive behavior.
Medicare policy guidance issued during the COVID-19 public health emergency is available at: https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/EPRO/Current-Emergencies/Current-Emergencies-page. Suspicious behavior should be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline: 866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov.
Information for People at Higher Risk for Coronavirus: CDC updated their information on people who are at higher risk for severe illness. The updated information includes extra precautions that this population should take as well as a video to watch on the topic. CDC released updated information for higher risk populations with specific steps to take depending on your risk factors that helps to explain the risk profile and actions to take in case an individual becomes sick.
What to Do if You Become Sick: CDC updated their information on what to do if you are sick or caring for someone who is sick. If an individual in your home is sick, CDC also released updated information with recommendations for caring for someone at home. Recommended steps include if you are caring for someone at home, how to monitor for emergency signs, prevent the spread of germs, treat symptoms, and carefully consider when to end home isolation.
You can protect access to home respiratory therapy during the COVID-19 Crisis by sending an email to your lawmakers. Click Here to Take Action
Resources
Press Releases
- CQRC Commends CMS Measures to Enable Delivery of Home Respiratory Care
- CQRC Commends the Congress for Assisting with Rural Home Medical Equipment and Services in COVID-19 Emergency Response Bill
- Expanded Use of Telehealth Applauded for Enabling Increased Access to Home Ventilator and Oxygen Services Amid COVID-19 Crisis
- Home Ventilator, Oxygen, and Sleep Suppliers at the Forefront of the COVID-19 Response
Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations to Address Patient Need under the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program
Home Respiratory Suppliers on the Frontlines of COVID-19 Crisis
CQRC Opinion Blog in MedPage Today
CQRC Opinion Blog in HME News
CMS Fact Sheet on COVID-19
CQRC’s letter to HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar
CQRC’s letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma
Media Inquiries
If you would like to speak to a CQRC representative or member of the home ventilator, oxygen, and sleep suppliers community about the community’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, please contact Ellen Almond at ealmond@schmidtpa.com.