JACKSON, Miss. (October 28, 2021)—Mississippi home medical equipment (HME) stakeholders secured a significant measure of relief when the state’s legislature eliminated a long-standing 5% reduction in Medicaid rates for HME, effective July 1, 2021.
Mississippi Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (MS MAMES) leaders had been advocating to exempt HME from the cuts for about four years. They redoubled their efforts in 2020, contracting with an experienced state-house lobbyist, engaging Mississippi legislators on the issue, and testifying before a joint Senate/House committee on Medicaid issues.
The legislature finally took action in the 2021 session, completely eliminating the 5% sequester as part of SB 2799. HME suppliers had previously been one of the few sectors not exempted from the cuts through earlier legislation.
“This is a great win for Mississippi suppliers and a testament to what HME advocates can achieve at the state level,” said Matthew Boyd, chief operating officer for Jones County Medical Supply and MS MAMES president who helped lead efforts to eliminate the cut. “Our team focused on explaining the value that HME provides to the Mississippi Medicaid program and its beneficiaries and the challenges suppliers faced under the current reimbursement structure. We were consistent and persistent in making our case across the legislature; that’s what it takes to succeed.”
Boyd also cited the leadership of his colleagues on the MS MAMES Board—and the contributions of Board member David Hosemann from Hometown Medical, in particular—as critical to sustaining the effort, and also noted the strong support from Mississippi Senator Kevin Blackwell for exempting DME from the 5% cut.
“AAHomecare’s Laura Williard and David Chandler’s contributions have also been essential to our success,” adds Boyd. “I am looking forward to working with them on our next significant challenge: working with Medicaid officials to address timeliness of payments for Mississippi MCOs.”
