Education and Training

2024 Webinars Offered to AAHomecare Members

AAHomecare's education and training webinars are offered as a member benefit and $129 for nonmembers. Below you will find each of the 2024 programs available for download. If you have questions, please reach out to Tilly Gambill. For upcoming programs, please visit the calendar.

How You Can Take Advantage of the 2024 Medicare Advantage Final Rule

Presented by Laura Williard, David Chandler, and Alexis Ward of AAHomecare

On April 5, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that revises the Medicare Advantage (MA or Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), Medicare Cost Plan, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) regulations to implement changes related to a series of requirements, including prior authorization, marketing and communications, health equity, provider directories, coverage criteria, network adequacy, and other areas. The full weight of the final rule will begin being implemented on 1/1/2024 and contains provisions which can prove helpful for ME providers in their interaction with Medicare Advantage Plans.

This webinar will provide helpful information to the DME industry on the CMS final rule - most importantly how the key points can enable better coverage for ME. Come learn how your business can leverage these new requirements to better serve your customers.

Members Benefit| Nonmembers $129
Originally presented January 2024

Screen_Shot_2023-12-28_at_10_22_44_PM.png
copayment_collection.png

Copayment Collection and Patient Assistance Programs

Presented by Jeff S. Baird, Esq. and Matthew D. Earl, Esq. of Brown & Fortunato

This program discusses (i) what it means to “make a reasonable effort” to collect copayments; (ii) how a supplier can implement a financial hardship policy that allows the supplier to waive/reduce a copayment on a patient-by-patient basis; (iii) point out that the existence of such a financial hardship policy cannot be advertised; (iv) how a DME supplier can implement a patient assistance program; and (v) how a supplier can access charities that may be in the position to assist patients in paying their copayments.

Members Benefit | Nonmembers $129
Originally presented February 2024

Proven Audit & Appeals Strategies

Presented by Noel Neil of ACU-Serve

With the public health emergency clearly in our rearview mirror, recent revisions to the oxygen and continuous glucose monitors policies, high CERT error rate for DMEPOS and ongoing OIG alerts on fraud, waste, and abuse in the DMEPOS space, I believe we are in for another eventful year for audits. For most suppliers it is not a matter of if but when their first audit will arrive. The best audit defense is good offensive plan. Being proactive and not reactive. Whether you are already inundated with Medicare audits, or you have not yet received your first one, this presentation has some helpful information for you.

The presentation will cover the following:

  • The different auditing contractors and the unique role they play. For example, RAC, CERT, UPIC, SMRC etc.
  • The different level of appeals, how to file those appeals.
  • Proven and successful audit strategies.
  • Proven and successful appeal strategies.
  • Trends and tips for the current audits and appeal, and much more.

Members Benefit | Nonmembers $129
Originally presented March 2024

Screen_Shot_2024-07-24_at_10_12_25_AM.png
Screen_Shot_2024-07-24_at_10_15_03_AM.png

Cash-Only Retail: How to Succeed

Presented by Jeff Baird, Esq. of Brown & Fortunato

Seniors account for a large share of patients served by the DME sector. This means that many DME suppliers are dependent on traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage for a major part of their revenue. But as DME suppliers know from experience, it can be challenging to be so tied to Medicare. This is where retail comes in. There are 78 million Baby Boomers who are retiring at the rate of 10,000 per day. Many Boomers are willing to pay cash for “Cadillac” items rather than being limited to the “Cavalier” items paid for by Medicare. This program will present the legal parameters within which DME suppliers can move into the retail space. The issues to be presented will include the following:

  • Whether the retail business should be (i) under the supplier’s existing Tax ID # or (ii) operated by a separate legal entity.
  • State DME licensure.
  • Selling Medicare-covered items at a discount off the Medicare allowable.
  • Obtaining physician prescriptions.
  • Collection and payment of sales tax.
  • Qualification as a “foreign” corporation.
  • Required notification to a Medicare beneficiary even though the supplier does not have a PTAN.

 Member Benefit | Nonmembers $129
Originally presented April 2024

Payer Negotiations: Know Your Plan

Presented by David Chandler, AAHomecare and Amanda Yavorsky of McKesson

Are you preparing to negotiate with a payer? Do you know which resources and data will help you make the best argument?

Join this webinar to prepare and make a plan for your company to make the most of your payer negotiation meetings. David Chandler and Amanda Yavorsky will help enable suppliers to build their own story and leverage it for upcoming negotiations by focusing on the process of preparing for a payer negotiation meeting. The presentation will break down 4 key areas: 1. Pre-negotiation homework. 2. Preparing the presentation. 3. Negotiation tips. 4. Resources to facilitate the process.

Member Benefit| Nonmembers $129
Originally presented April 2024

a group of people sitting at a table looking at papers
Screen_Shot_2024-03-28_at_9_41_32_AM.png

Safeguarding Access to Enteral Nutrition

Presented by: Pam Pacht, Nestle Health Science, Cameo Zehnder, Pediatric Home Service, Kristina McIntosh, Schraders' Medical Supply, Vicki Emch, Aveanna Healthcare

Enteral Nutrition has an integral role in HME. More than 400,000 people use feeding tubes in the U.S. each year, including infants, children and adults. Proper EN management by knowledgeable HME providers is critical to prevent malnourishment and negative health outcomes. Yet current market conditions create significant challenges to ensuring access.

This webinar will reference the white paper developed by EN stakeholders “Challenges in Enteral Nutrition Access & Management: Safeguarding Life-Sustaining Enteral Nutrition”, while walking through critical steps to help providers:

  • Ensure access for our most vulnerable patients
  • Advocate for the benefit
  • Identify ongoing support and expertise
  • Articulate to payers and legislators the value of services provided

Member Benefit | Nonmembers $129
Originally presented May 2024

Employee Retention Tax Credit

Presented byJeffrey Baird, Esq. of Brown & Fortunato & Kianna L. Sitarski, Esq. of Brown & Fortunato

The COVID pandemic was unprecedented … and traumatic … for all of us. In response, the federal government passed laws – and issued regulations – designed to (i) provide “safety nets” to businesses, (ii) expand the provision of health care in the home, and (iii) assist families financially. A key provision is the Employee Retention Tax Credit that is designed to encourage employers, that are adversely affected by the pandemic, to keep employees on their payroll. Since its inception in 2020, the Employee Retention Credit has been modified by federal statute and IRS regulations to relieve financial struggles faced by employers.

This webinar will discuss the history of the Employee Retention Credit, including eligibility and value of tax credits available for wages paid between March 2020 and December 31, 2021. The webinar will also discuss how to retroactively claim the Employee Retention credits and common pitfalls to avoid when the DME supplier is amending its tax filing. Lastly, the webinar will discuss how the DME supplier can avoid the scams that have arisen in conjunction with the Employee Retention Tax Credit.

Member Benefit| Nonmembers $129
Originally presented July 2024

AdobeStock_157022995.jpg

Virtual Education Sessions

Medtrade_AAH_Logos_v4.png

Through AAHomecare's partnership with Medtrade, we are able to offer sessions from the March 2024 conference. Two sessions will be offered, both highly attended and received wide-praise by participants. The first is specific to Payer Relations, check back in a few weeks for the presentation on Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs). We hope these presentations give you an idea of the quality of information shared through Medtrade and encourage you to attend in 2025.

Education for the industry is a key focus for Medtrade and AAHomecare. Look for Medtrade's 2025 Conference tracks here, and AAHomecare's Education and Training here.

Payer to Patient to Paid: Optimize financial success

Presented by Jennifer Leon and Ashley Brown of Brightree

The challenges providers are facing in collecting on claims, or collecting from patients is not getting any easier, and at times may seem next to impossible. This interactive session will explore key strategies and techniques through technology solutions and better workflow practices on how to ensure you are getting paid - from payer to patient.

  • Explore key tactics in creating a full proof intake process to ensure payments are easy for patients, and quick for your team.
  • Discuss and explore technology available to help streamline workflow processes all while keeping costs to a minimum.
  • Encounter stories of success from your peers who have taken the initiative to change their billing practices, ensuring positive outcomes and timelier payments.

Complimentary to the HME Industry.
Originally presented at Medtrade in March 2024

payer_image.png
CMG_Webinar_image.png

Breaking into a new product category: Continuous Glucose Monitors

Presented by Adam Nadler (Quest Health Solutions), Trevor Danley (Total Medical Supply), and Chris Moran (GEMCO Medical)

Offering DME owners an in-depth knowledge and actionable insights into the CGM market, “Breaking into a new product category: CGMs” aims to explore the intricacies of CGM technology, asses market integration strategies, and dive into operations consideration to facilitate successful adoption and expansion within this product category.

This webinar walks through:
• the CGM Market Penetration,
• Navigating Heavy Competition,
• Identifying the Market Opportunity,
• Licensing,
• Financial Planning,
• Audits,
• Understanding Patient Engagement, and much more.

This program is beneficial to any supplier gauging the opportunity to enter the continuous glucose market or suppliers looking to capitalize on their initial investment into this market segment. Learn how to sustain growth and optimize ROI by improving your margins in this webinar.

Complimentary to the HME Industry.
Originally presented at Medtrade in March 2024