Indiana OKs Licensure of Respiratory Care Practitioners Indianapolis Indiana has passed legislation requiring respiratory care practitioners to be state licensed. Previously, only certification was required.

The law, scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2001, also clarifies which respiratory care practices are and are not considered tasks, outlines regulations for respiratory care practitioners, and specifies educational requirements.

According to the new law, individuals who are not certified or licensed may deliver, calibrate and demonstrate the operation of equipment if they meet certain requirements. Those with a respiratory care certificate that is valid on June 30, 2001, will be allowed to use it in lieu of a license until it expires.

Virginia Plan Would Exclude Supplies for Diabetics from DME Category Richmond, Va. Proposed legislation that would prevent third-party payers from categorizing diabetic supplies as durable medical equipment is awaiting approval by the governor.

Sponsored by the Virginia Diabetes Legislative Coalition, the legislation also would require benefit coverage of diabetic supplies without the $2,000 cap that applies to DME. "The category listing of diabetic supplies is one of the biggest issues, because it would ensure that 'supplies' is not included in the cap limit," said Becky Snead, executive director of the Virginia Pharmacist Association, which supports the bill.

In addition, the bill calls for managed care companies to require health care professionals providing diabetes outpatient self-management education to be members of the plan's approved provider network.

The legislation (HB 1376 & SB 274) would apply to all insurance policies, contracts or plans as of July 1, 1999.

CAMPS Responds to DHS Request With List of Medi-Cal Priorities Sacramento, Calif. In response to a request from the Department of Health Services for ideas on Medi-Cal respiratory care services, the California Association of Medical Product Suppliers has targeted five priorities it wants the DHS to address in the next year.

"We felt ... that we could influence or highlight our views to possibly persuade action," said Robert Achermann, CAMPS executive director.

DHS officials welcomed the CAMPS list. "We solicited priorities from over 100 organizations and will be making a general response to them," said Ken August, DHS spokesman, "but individually, we have used [CAMPS'] input as a reference point on issues and value the information in determining the course of action."

Key issues targeted by CAMPS are the following:

* Allowing pulse oximetry testing instead of arterial blood gas tests for patients in a chronic stable state. CAMPS' position is that pulse oximetry testing is just as accurate, more cost effective and less invasive.

* Paying custom rehabilitation claims for beneficiaries with both Medicare and Medi-Cal coverage. Because Medi-Cal managed care plans vary in payment and authorization policies, it is difficult for home medical equipment providers to supply big-ticket items such as wheelchairs to patients without guaranteed payment from Medi-Cal, CAMPS said.

* Passing the CAMPS-sponsored HME licensure bill, which would require licensing for providers to be enrolled in Medi-Cal.

* Streamlining the authorization and claims processes for the Medi-Cal California Children Services.

* Developing custom wheelchair procedure codes that do not deny access for beneficiaries but contain reimbursement costs.