On Friday August 19, 2016, the Center for Medicare Advocacy submitted comments in response to a June 30 request from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for information regarding Durable Medical Equipment (DME) access issues faced by individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.[1] The letter, signed by almost 80 organizations, expressed concern for a serious and persistent obstacle to obtaining DME faced by people in many states who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare.
Logistical problems created by the mismatch of Medicare and Medicaid processing rules lead to barriers in accessing needed care that individuals who are on only Medicaid or Medicare do not have. These problems often arise when beneficiaries transition from Medicaid-only status to dual Medicare-Medicaid status. In these instances, individuals who previously had no difficulty obtaining their DME through Medicaid may face vendors who refuse to deliver the same DME once they also become eligible for Medicare, because they are concerned that they will not receive payment from either Medicare or Medicaid.
Read the full letter at https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/sign-on-letter-access-to-care-issues-for-durable-medical-equipment/.