Request for Advocacy on Proposed CMS Action on Medicaid Transportation

I am a dialysis social worker. This is a message to inform those who don't know about a proposed government rule that could cause many people to lose transportation for dialysis. I thought this group would want to know and can get others to write to prevent CMS from taking this step. You have until March 24, 2008 to take action. If there are any concerns about this posting, please let me know. I could not get the CMS Action Alert to attach, so I summarized key points. Best wishes, Marcia Sawyer, LMSW

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid is proposing a rule, (file code CMS-2232-P),
that will allow state Medicaid programs the option to stop paying for non-emergency medical transportation. This includes transportation for Hemodialysis. If CMS adopts this rule... how many states will continue paying for a Medicaid service, once they can opt out?

What might happen if we lose Medicaid transportation supports?

Poor, disabled patients will have difficulty keeping up with routine but life sustaining treatments and essential health care.

More of these patients will use emergency rooms rather than preventive health care.

Patients who are not safe to drive may be forced back on the road to get to treatment.

Dialysis providers will feel the effect when Medicaid patients lose transportation for 3 times weekly treatments. Do the staff in your facility know about this proposed rule?

Action is needed by March 24, 2008.

1.   You can make comments by e-mail:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking/
Click on the link ``Submit electronic comments on CMS regulations with an open comment period.' Attachments should be in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or Excel.

2.   Or write:

Send 1 letter with 2 copies to:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Department of Health and Human Services
Attention: CMS-2232-P
P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore, MD 21244-8016

3.   You can also adapt and send this message to others.

Thanks!