BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OF THE

STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 37.86.805, 37.86.1802, and 37.86.1807 pertaining to durable medical equipment and hearing aids

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

TO: All Concerned Persons

 

            1. On October 31, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., the Department of Public Health and Human Services will hold a public hearing in Room 207 of the Department of Public Health and Human Services Building, 111 North Sanders, at Helena, Montana, Montana, to consider the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules.

 

2. The Department of Public Health and Human Services will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this rulemaking process or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact Department of Public Health and Human Services no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 24, 2012, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Please contact Kenneth Mordan, Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Legal Affairs, P.O. Box 4210, Helena, Montana, 59604-4210; telephone (406) 444-4094; fax (406) 444-9744; or e-mail [email protected].

 

3. The rules as proposed to be amended provide as follows, new matter underlined, deleted matter interlined:

 

            37.86.805 HEARING AID SERVICES, REIMBURSEMENT (1) and (1)(a) remain the same.

            (b) the amount specified for the particular service or item in the department's fee schedule. The department adopts and incorporates by reference the department's Hearing Aid Fee Schedule dated January 2012 2013. A copy of the department's fee schedule is posted at http://medicaidprovider.hhs.mt.gov and may be obtained from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Health Resources Division, 1401 East Lockey, P.O. Box 202951, Helena, MT 59620-2951; or

            (c) and (2) remain the same.

 

AUTH:     53-2-201, 53-6-113, MCA

IMP:        53-2-201, 53-6-101, 53-6-111, 53-6-113, 53-6-141, MCA

 

            37.86.1802 PROSTHETIC DEVICES, DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES, GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (1) remains the same.

            (2) Reimbursement for prosthetic devices, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies shall be limited to items delivered in the most appropriate and cost effective manner. Montana Medicaid adopts Medicare coverage criteria for Medicare covered durable medical equipment as outlined in the Region D Supplier Manual, local coverage determinations (LCDs) and national coverage determinations (NCDs) dated January 2012 2013. For prosthetic devices, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies not covered by Medicare coverage will be determined by the department. The items must be medically necessary and prescribed in accordance with (2)(a) by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts within the scope of his practice as defined by state law.

            (a) The prescription must indicate the diagnosis, the medical necessity, and projected length of need for prosthetic devices, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies. The original prescription must be retained in accordance with the requirements of ARM 37.85.414. Prescriptions may be transmitted by an authorized provider to the durable medical equipment provider by electronic means or pursuant to an oral prescription made by an individual practitioner and promptly reduced to hard copy by the durable medical equipment provider containing all information required. Prescriptions for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, and orthotics (DMEPOS) shall follow the Medicare criteria outlined in chapters 3 and 4 of the Region D Medicare Supplier Manual (January 1, 2012 2013), which is adopted and incorporated by reference. A copy of the Region D Medicare Supplier Manual may be obtained from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Health Resources Division, 1401 East Lockey, P.O. Box 202951, Helena, MT 59620-2951. For items requiring prior authorization the provider must include a copy of the prescription when submitting the prior authorization request.

            (i) remains the same.

            (b) Subject to the provisions of (3), medical necessity for oxygen is determined in accordance with the Medicare criteria outlined in the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier (DMERC) Region D Supplier Manual, (January 1, 2012 2013), Local Coverage Determination (LCD) and policy articles (January 1, 2012 2013), and National Coverage Determination (NCD) (January 1, 2012 2013), which are adopted and incorporated by reference. The Medicare criteria specify the health conditions and levels of hypoxemia in terms of blood gas values for which oxygen will be considered medically necessary. The Medicare criteria also specify the medical documentation and laboratory evidence required to support medical necessity. A copy of the Medicare criteria may be obtained from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Health Resources Division, 1401 East Lockey, P.O. Box 202951, Helena, MT 59620-2951.

            (c) through (5) remains the same.

            (6) The following items are not reimbursable by the program:

            (a) through (r) remain the same.

            (s) items included in the nursing home per diem rate; and

            (t) backup equipment.; and

            (u) safety equipment unless explicitly covered by Medicare.

            (7) remains the same.

 

AUTH: 53-2-201, 53-6-113, MCA

IMP:     53-2-201, 53-6-101, 53-6-111, 53-6-113, 53-6-141, MCA

 

            37.86.1807 PROSTHETIC DEVICES, DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES, FEE SCHEDULE (1) remains the same.

            (2) Prosthetic devices, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies shall be reimbursed in accordance with the department's Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Fee Schedule, effective January 2012 2013, which is adopted and incorporated by reference. A copy of the department's fee schedule is posted at the Montana Medicaid provider web site at http://medicaidprovider.hhs.mt.gov. A copy of the department's Prosthetic Devices, Durable Medical Equipment, and Medical Supplies Fee Schedule may also be obtained from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Health Resources Division, 1401 East Lockey, P.O. Box 202951, Helena, MT 59620-2951.

            (3) and (4) remain the same.

 

AUTH:     53-2-201, 53-6-113, MCA

IMP:        53-2-201, 53-6-101, 53-6-111, 53-6-113, 53-6-141, MCA

 

            4. STATEMENT OF REASONABLE NECESSITY

 

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (the department) is proposing the amendment of ARM 37.86.805, 37.86.1802, and 37.86.1807 pertaining to durable medical equipment and hearing aids to reflect updated Medicare fees and updated Medicaid fee schedule rates of reimbursement. The proposed rule amendments will communicate the program rules and guidelines set forth by Medicare. The amendments proposed by the department are necessary to maintain compliance with Medicare requirements. Failure to remain in compliance can result in loss of federal funding for Medicaid services.

 

ARM 37.86.805

 

The department is proposing these amendments to change fee schedule dates to January 1, 2013 to reflect changes in Medicare rates.

 

ARM 37.86.1802

 

The department is proposing these amendments because the Medicare Supplier Manual and Local Coverage Determinations (LCD), policy articles and National Coverage Determinations (NCD) are being updated to January 1, 2013 to reflect changes in Medicare policy. The department is taking this opportunity to specifically state existing policy that safety equipment, unless explicitly covered by Medicare, is not reimbursable by the program.

 

ARM 37.86.1807

 

The department is proposing these amendments to reflect the January 2013 fee schedule that incorporates Medicare fees.

 

Fiscal Impact

 

The proposed rule amendments are estimated to affect 392 DME providers, 25 hearing aid providers; 35 audiology providers, and 93,685 Medicaid recipients.

 

The cumulative amount of the fiscal impact for all persons affected by the proposed increase, decrease or new amount for each rule is as follows:

 

 ARM 37.86.805:

 

SFY 2013

State General Fund:           $404               Federal Funds: $783          Total: $1,187

 

ARM 37.86.1802 and 37.86.1807

 

SFY 2013

State General Fund:            $34,955          Federal Funds: $67,824    Total: $102,799

 

            5. Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments either orally or in writing at the hearing. Written data, views, or arguments may also be submitted to: Kenneth Mordan, Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Legal Affairs, P.O. Box 4210, Helena, Montana, 59604-4210; fax (406) 444-9744; or e-mail [email protected], and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., November 8, 2012.

 

6. The Office of Legal Affairs, Department of Public Health and Human Services, has been designated to preside over and conduct this hearing.

 

7. The department maintains a list of interested persons who wish to receive notices of rulemaking actions proposed by this agency.  Persons who wish to have their name added to the list shall make a written request that includes the name, e-mail, and mailing address of the person to receive notices and specifies for which program the person wishes to receive notices. Notices will be sent by e-mail unless a mailing preference is noted in the request. Such written request may be mailed or delivered to the contact person in 5 above or may be made by completing a request form at any rules hearing held by the department.

 

8. An electronic copy of this proposal notice is available through the Secretary of State's web site at http://sos.mt.gov/ARM/Register.  The Secretary of State strives to make the electronic copy of the notice conform to the official version of the notice, as printed in the Montana Administrative Register, but advises all concerned persons that in the event of a discrepancy between the official printed text of the notice and the electronic version of the notice, only the official printed text will be considered.  In addition, although the Secretary of State works to keep its web site accessible at all times, concerned persons should be aware that the web site may be unavailable during some periods, due to system maintenance or technical problems.

 

9. The bill sponsor contact requirements of 2-4-302, MCA, do not apply.

 

/s/ John Koch                                               /s/ Anna Whiting Sorrell                            

Rule Reviewer                                             Anna Whiting Sorrell, Director

                                                                        Public Health and Human Services

           

Certified to the Secretary of State October 1, 2012.