American’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200), includes the following changes that will affect the HME/Pharmacy provider:
- Requires the oxygen supplier in month 27 of the 36-month rental period to continue to supply oxygen during the period of medical need through the end of the useful lifetime, regardless of the patient’s location, unless another supplier accepts responsibility for the patient. The bill makes this provision effective on the date of enactment of the bill.
- Restores a new 36-month rental period for patients in the case that the supplier is declared bankrupt and its assets are liquidated. The patient must have at least 24 months of rental payments to qualify for a new rental period.
- The First Month Purchase Option for Standard Power Wheelchairs will be removed.
- Waives the surety bond requirement for pharmacies that have had a DME supplier number for at least 5 years and have never had a final adverse action imposed.
- Exempts pharmacies that supply diabetic testing supplies, canes, and crutches from DME accreditation.
- Any supplier that has submitted an application for accreditation before August 1, 2009, shall be deemed as meeting applicable standards and accreditation requirement under this subparagraph until such time as the independent accreditation organization takes action on the supplier’s application.
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