KENAI — Alaska’s Medicaid patients may soon be getting recycled wheelchairs and walkers under new legislation that could reduce costs for the state program.
State lawmakers and officials with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services are working together to amend Medicaid regulations to allow reimbursement for reused medical items instead of having patients purchase new ones.
The proposed regulations are not expected to financially affect patients, The Peninsula Clarion reported. Major cost savings would mostly be for the federally administered Medicaid program because there is no copay on the durable medical equipment.
Legislation authorizing Alaska’s Medicaid program to reimburse for used durable medical equipment passed through the House of Representatives in May. The measure is working its way through the Senate.
Erin Narus, the program manager for pharmacy and ancillary services at the Department of Health and Social Services, said the legislation formalizes a recommendation for the department to revise its regulations.
“Under Medicaid, the durable medical equipment are items like your wheelchairs that would be used by the individual or home in their community setting,” Narus said. “Both of them would have to meet the same standards, that they would have the same life and ensuring that there’s no defect.”
Sen. Peter Micciche said at his town hall meeting Dec. 2 that he plans to present the bill in his legislative agenda in the upcoming session. Micciche is one of eight co-sponsors on the Senate’s version of the bill.
“(This is) part of bringing the cost down of Medicaid,” Micciche said. “Before, in our state, you couldn’t reuse durable medical equipment. If you had a very high-priced wheelchair and the person didn’t need it anymore, they would have to purchase a new one for that client.”
Michelle Morrelle, owner of Soldotna home medical equipment distributor Alaskare Home Medical Equipment, is concerned about how the changes will affect the requirement for distributors to ensure that the equipment works properly.
“With Medicare, if there’s anything wrong with the equipment, we’re obligated to fix it in the warranty period,” Morrelle said. “If something is used, it’s not under warranty.”
