Revisiting Medicare’s Coverage of Home Healthcare

Rick Jobus avatar

by Rick Jobus |

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About a year ago, I wrote about how ALS patients may receive home healthcare on an uninterrupted basis, with expenses covered by Medicare. Since then, there has been both good news and bad news. The good news is that I recently “celebrated” my two-year anniversary of getting that coverage. The bad news is I recently learned that some folks are denied this right.

One example came to me from a friend of mine who has ALS and lives in Michigan. During one of her ALS clinic visits, she discussed home healthcare with her doctor, who gave her a prescription. The prescription contained all required elements in exacting detail. My friend would have had physical therapy “trigger” daily aide care, as I do. In fact, in comparing notes, her submission seemed identical to mine. Yet, her home health agency (HHA) of choice said coverage wasn’t forthcoming. Anecdotally, none of the patients served by her clinic seem to have been able to receive anything other than episodic home care.

As I mulled over my friend’s plight, I became angry about the proliferation of potential Medicare misinformation, possible systemic apathy, and the rather large profit variable in the healthcare delivery equation. Amid this internal wrestling match, I received an unexpected but timely email from an attorney, which thickened the plot. She was pursuing home health benefits for several ALS clients under Medicare in the Washington, D.C., area. The attorney was reaching out with questions about my Medicare-HHA experience, having read my aforementioned column on the topic.

One of the questions concerned the identity of my fiscal intermediary. With an ignorant sense of unjustified pride, my response was that I hadn’t needed any intermediary. The inference was that I figured out how to navigate a complex, maze-like, onerous system by myself. I should have done my research before answering her. It turns out that I do have a Medicare fiscal intermediary. Everyone covered under Medicare does.

Since Medicare’s inception in 1966, private healthcare insurers have processed medical claims for Medicare beneficiaries. Formerly these entities were known as fiscal intermediaries (FI), which were replaced in 2003 with Medicare administrative contractors (MACs). Four of the MACs also process Home Health and Hospice (HH+H) claims in addition to their typical Medicare Part A and Part B claims.

Here are the four current HH+H MACs, along with the jurisdiction each serves:

  • CGS; Jurisdiction 15: Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Anticipated contract end date: August 2023
  • Palmetto; Jurisdiction M: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Anticipated contract end date: October 2022.
  • NGS; Jurisdiction K: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Anticipated contract end date: January 2022.
  • NGS; Jurisdiction 6: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Wisconsin, and Washington Anticipated contract end date: May 2020.

MACs perform many activities including:

  • process Medicare fee-for-service claims
  • make and account for Medicare fee-for-service payments
  • establish local coverage determinations.

That may explain the latitude for inconsistent and erroneous interpretation of coverable home health services. As the attorney who contacted me observed, the MAC — Palmetto — responsible for my state “appears to be light years ahead of everyone else for maintenance home health.” Despite that, it still took nine months for me to receive my legal benefit. I cannot imagine the ordeal presented by governance from a less “enlightened” MAC. Confounding the situation further, the MAC CGS (responsible for D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) is owned by the same parent — Celerion — that owns Palmetto.

What can be done in the face of judgment contrary to enacted Medicare legislation? Certainly a sympathetic lawyer, ideally pro bono, is a valuable resource. Additionally, The Center for Medicare Advocacy may be another option. It offers “exceptional legal analysis, education, and advocacy.”

Two additional strategies are consistent with this month’s theme of ALS awareness. One is to rally your social network to petition your congressional representative(s), in volume, for assistance. A second would be to secure media attention. Local television news producers seemingly are hungry for “feel good” items where the programming aids in rectifying an injustice.

In any case, the right is ours.

Perhaps to be continued …

***

Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.

Comments

David Buschhorn avatar

David Buschhorn

Medicare is the most jacked up system of insurance I've ever seen. Having changed insurers several times in my life, Medicare stands alone in their wild and utterly unnecessary complexity.

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dante avatar

dante

Medical Insurance Can Decide Who Lives and Dies (video)
Medical Insurance Companies Can Decide Who Lives and Dies – RAI with Wendell Potter (4/7)
May 15, 2019
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Whistleblower Wendell Potter says the death of a young woman denied care by the insurance company he worked for was a turning point in his life; he says these practices are still taking place under the Affordable Care Act - on Reality Asserts Itself with Paul Jay

https://therealnews.com/stories/medical-insurance-companies-can-decide-who-lives-and-dies-rai-with-wendell-potter-4-7

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Dave Reckonin avatar

Dave Reckonin

"Your policy covers absolutely everything, except claims."

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Patricia avatar

Patricia

Rick I so appreciate your interest on this matter and willingness to help. Your tenacity as you "navigate" the system has allowed you to be triumphant. That, and the fact that MAC — Palmetto — responsible for your state “appears to be light years ahead of everyone else for maintenance home health.”
I know I need to try harder but it is discouraging. The bottom line: The Health Care agencies have the freedom to choose NOT to participate with medicare. They pay less and and the amount of paperwork is overwhelming! why should they bother? they are a business and this is their choice.
The next step should be awareness as you mention, a pressure of different kind...that takes a lot of energy and efforts.

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Rick Jobus avatar

Rick Jobus

Pat, I'm not done yet.

Dave Reckonin avatar

Dave Reckonin

Universal Healthcare, funded from General Taxation and free 'at the point of delivery' would solve many of these problems. Most civilized societies operate this without being branded 'Commie Pinko Russia-Loving Rats.'

However, the USA shies away from that system because it feels it is very important for doctors to become multi-millionaires, usually via the insurers. And we can't have them stopped from doing that can we?

Or .......can we?

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Rick Jobus avatar

Rick Jobus

Dave,
Once, when in France in 2011, I had occasion to see a doctor. No lavish office, no receptionist, just a nondescript hole-in-the-wall. but no waiting. The doc even drew my blood, analyzed it himself under a microscope, and sent samples off for further analysis. He even found something important that no one in the US had been able to. The visit, outside lab work, and follow-up appointment cost me, an uninsured tourist, just 80 euros.

Dave Reckonin avatar

Dave Reckonin

Biensur. C'etait magnifique.

Ellyn Maloney avatar

Ellyn Maloney

My husband had ALS and although we knew it was terminal, he died unexpectedly. On the day of his death, he was on the phone with the ALS association discussing advocacy for home health care/Medicare. He also was in contact with the Center for Medicare Advocacy which you mentioned. It warms my heart to know that you are not only a recipient of Medicare home health care but also continue to be an advocate and "informant" for those who are not so lucky. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to help those who need and deserve these services.

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Rick Jobus avatar

Rick Jobus

Ellyn, I am so sorry for your loss. Know that you are in my prayers.

sportowe fakty żużel live avatar

sportowe fakty żużel live

Football is a very popular competitive team sport.

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