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when it comes to audits: what is CMS going to do as far as auditing pandemic claims once HHS’s public health emergency is officially over? In a meeting with CMS, van Halem got the sense they were aware this was “top of mind” for providers.
“They’re very well aware of the fact that there is going to be a 60-day before the public health emergency is declared over,” he notes. “We asked them how soon after would they be providing guidance on how to handle all these patients? And they said that it might not be immediate, but they’re also not going to wait until day 45 to release the information.
“So, we think it should be soon after that 60-day notice made public that they would release some information to suppliers,” van Halem continues. “We’ll see.”
PRODUCT AND WORKFORCE SHORTAGES
If there’s a word that could describe what providers have been experiencing ever since the Covid-19 shutdowns, it would be “shortage.” The supply chain, product shortages, and workforce scarcity have hit
all providers, says Josh Marx, CEO of HME provider business Medical Service Company. “Our industry is a resilient one,” Marx says. “But the limited availability of equip- ment tied to supply chain issues has been a difficult one. From CPAP to crutches, HME providers have not been able to source as
much product as their patients need.” What’s made that especially hard is pricing. Most industries have price elasticity to react to the supply-and-demand realities, but because HME providers are largely reim- bursed on a fixed pricing model, inflated
equipment costs have impacted their bottom lines, Marx adds.
Moreover, all Americans are getting hit by inflation, which is making them look for better-paying jobs. The economy adding so many jobs each month makes it hard for providers to hire and retain staff.
“Many reports show there are two open jobs for every one American seeking a new job, creating a blue ocean of opportunities for employees,” Marx explains. “For HME providers to remain competitive employers, not only do they need to create the right type of work and environment, but they must pay enough to allow their employees to comfort- ably afford their lifestyle as basic goods cost seven to 10 percent more than they did last year. Again, with fixed and inequitable reim- bursement, this is a significant challenge for HME providers, no matter their size.”
Marx adds this cost structure is becoming the “new normal” for HME. This means providers must rethink how their busi- nesses will look. In fact, they might have to make those changes just to keep up.
For instance, the nation’s overall manu- facturing and logistical infrastructure are
Josh Marx,
CEO, Medical Service Company
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Management Solutions | Technology | Products hme-business.com | November/December 2022 | HMEBusiness 21 Untitled-2 1 11/17/22 5:53 PM