Meeting Today's Challenges, Shaping Tomorrow's DME Industry

Anyone working in healthcare today knows the challenges are growing. Every day providers are expected to deliver excellent care while dealing with rising costs, low reimbursements, and increasing regulations. For Durable Medical Equipment providers, those challenges have become even greater.

Medical equipment companies are facing pressure from every direction. Many of the products patients rely on every day are made from petroleum based plastics, so when manufacturing costs rise, providers feel it immediately. Unfortunately, reimbursement rates rarely keep pace, forcing companies to do more with less while continuing to serve patients.

The industry is also seeing increased efforts to combat fraud. Protecting healthcare programs is important, but many of the regulations honest providers must follow are the result of fraud committed by bad actors. As a result, reputable companies spend more time and resources on compliance, technology, documentation, and security so they can continue providing quality care.

Recognizing these challenges, Florida providers came together more than 15 years ago to create the Florida Alliance of Home Care Services, better known as FAHCS.

SurfMed CEO Jeffrey Rittenberg recognized that, unlike many other states, Florida did not have an active organization representing the interests of Durable Medical Equipment providers. He worked with providers across the state to build an organization that could advocate for the industry and protect patient access to care.

One of FAHCS's first major successes was helping prevent out of state companies from securing exclusive Medicaid contracts that would have limited competition and patient choice. Today, the organization works with state agencies, managed care organizations, legislators, and healthcare leaders to address the issues affecting providers throughout Florida.

FAHCS remains actively engaged with state regulators on issues both large and small. That includes everything from introducing new billing codes that allow providers to offer the latest medical equipment and technology, to working through complex reimbursement and rate setting issues that directly impact patient access to care. The organization also works closely with state legislators to educate them on the value of home based medical equipment services. Keeping patients safely and comfortably in their homes not only improves quality of life, but also reduces healthcare costs by helping prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and institutional care.

SurfMed continues to play an active leadership role. Our Executive Vice President serves on the FAHCS Board of Directors, and SurfMed's Chief Strategy Officer serves as the organization's legislative advisor.

This week, SurfMed is attending the FAHCS Annual Conference in Orlando, where providers from across the state are discussing reimbursement, regulatory changes, fraud prevention, rising supply costs, and new technology that can help providers operate more efficiently.

The challenges facing the DME industry are real, but so is the commitment of the people working to solve them. By working together through organizations like FAHCS, providers are helping ensure patients across Florida continue to receive the medical equipment and supplies they depend on every day.