ALEXANDRIA,Va.--The American Association for Homecare is stepping up efforts to preserve the right for Medicare beneficiaries to choose to rent equipment in the capped rental category.

A Senate provision in the nation's 2006 budget reconciliation bill requires transfer of title to Medicare patients for certain DME items after a 13-month rental. AAHomecare said it is working hurriedly to point out to members of Congress that the provision "eliminates the beneficiary's choice to continue renting medical equipment in the capped rental category and places an unfair burden on these seniors."

While Senate leaders included the proposal as a way to save $900 million in Medicare/Medicaid spending, the association explained that:

--DME providers are currently required to notify patients about the option to rent or purchase durable medical equipment in the capped rental category, but the vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries prefers the rental option;
--if the medical equipment is purchased, the Medicare patient incurs additional fees for emergency support or to exchange malfunctioning equipment;
--it is neither safe nor fair to shift the burden of maintenance and repair for medical equipment to the Medicare patient; and
--reimbursement cuts for the majority of capped rental DME items have already occurred under the FEHBP-based cuts that took effect at the beginning of 2005.

If budget negotiators can't work out differences between the Senate and House of Representatives' version of the budget bill--which includes no capped rental provision--before the Christmas break, they will renew discussion when Congress returns in late January.