For the more than one million home oxygen patients in the United States, a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) published last week is welcome news. The FAA rule will allow airline passengers to use certain portable oxygen concentrator (POC) devices onboard beginning August 11, 2005.

The SFAR does not require carriers to allow the devices but does allow the concentrators. The final rule mentions the availability of two acceptable POC devices currently on the market made by Inogen and Airsep.

Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), who chairs the Congressional COPD Caucus, commended the FAA for issuing the rule. "It allows millions of Americans suffering from COPD and other diseases to take to the skies unburdened with the current onerous regulations and cost. I strongly urge the major airlines to immediately respect this large population of potential air travelers and permit these POCs onboard."

"This is a critically important milestone in the relatively short history of long-term oxygen therapy in the home," said Joseph Lewarski, VP for Clinical and Government Affairs at Inogen. Joe Priest, President and COO of AirSep, said the FAA rule will eliminate a lot of the nightmares that oxygen patients face when traveling by air.

The American Association for Homecare, the American Lung Association, and other groups also applauded the rule. To read the final FAA rule, see the July 12 Federal Register at:

a257.g.akamaitech/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo/2005/05-13664.htm Or search for Page 40155 at www.gpoaccess/fr/.

Medicaid: Ohio Proposes Severe Homecare Cuts that Alarm Providers

The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS) is proposing significant changes to several of the state's Medicaid rules, reports the Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Services (OAMES).

Some of the more damaging changes are proposed in the "Reimbursement for Covered Services" rule and the "Oxygen" rules. For example, Ohio proposes to implement "volume purchasing" for HME and supplies - a competitive bidding model of reimbursement that follows the national trend included in the Medicare Modernization Act.

In a recent alert, OAMES noted many concerns specific to the oxygen rules, which were recently made public. OAMES has asked respiratory providers in Ohio to submit their own comments by the deadline of August 1, 2005. To review the proposed changes to the Medicaid oxygen rules, see: jfs.ohio/OLS/Clearance. For details, contact Kam Yuricich OAMES Executive Director at kamoames.

New AAHomecare Small Provider Committee Pushes Changes to Restrictive Contracting

The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) created an ad hoc committee that has already begun work to focus on the specific threats and remedies for small homecare providers under restrictive contracting (competitive bidding) provisions of the Medicare Modernization Act.

Committee members include:

· Kay Cox, President and CEO, AAHomecare

· Thomas Ryan, AAHomecare Chair, and President and CEO, Homecare Concepts, Farmingdale, NY

· Georgetta Blackburn, Director of Compliance, Blackburn's Physicians Pharmacy, Tarentum, PA

· James Clark, President, Clark Respiratory, Catskill, NY

· Asela M. Cuervo, AAHomecare Consultant and Attorney, Washington, DC

· Ramon Darcey, AAHomecare Vice Chair, and VP, Sentara Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA

· Karyn Estrella, Executive Director, New England Medical Equipment Dealers Association, MA

· John Gallagher, VP, Government Relations, VGM, Waterloo, IA

· George Kucka, President, Fair Meadows Home Health, Schererville, IN

· Tim Pederson, President and CEO, WestMed Rehab, Rapid City, SD

· Jeff Wills, CFO, Canadian Valley Medical Solutions, Oklahoma City, OK

· Jeff Woodham, VP, Information, The MED Group, Lubbock, TX

AAHomecare believes any qualified provider should be able to compete in the bid process and CMS should not limit the number of homecare providers if the providers can meet prescribed prices and quality standards. The Committee will work in conjunction with AAHomecare's Regulatory, Legislative Policy, and Executive Committees.

Mark Calendars for 2006 AAHomecare Leadership Conference & Fly-In Dates

Note two key dates for 2006. First, the AAHomecare Leadership Conference will be held May 7-9 in Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort. This event is a great opportunity to better understand the key drivers that shape the homecare sector, expand knowledge in education sessions, and network with peers from all across the nation.

Also, AAHomecare's Washington Legislative Fly-in will be held June 19-20 at the J.W. Marriott located on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and Capitol Hill. This key advocacy and policy event focuses on educating Members of Congress and staff about homecare and top legislative and policy issues.

Michael Reinemer, VP, Communications
American Association for Homecare
625 Slaters Lane, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314-1171 703-535-1881
aahomecare