GSU unveils small business tax credit calculator for health reform

Georgia State University researchers have unveiled a small business tax credit calculator to help employers crunch the numbers to see if they’re eligible for health reform credits under the new law.

The tool, called the 50-State Health Reform Calculator for Small Businesses, will help small employers, including non-profits, determine if they’re eligible for tax subsidies to cover part of the cost of health insurance starting this year. It is the first comprehensive nationwide calculator for all states. It can be accessed at www.gsu.edu/ghpc.

“We’re trying to provide information for employers about the impact and effects of health reform on their business decisions,” said Bill Custer, associate professor and director of the Institute of Health Administration in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business.

Small businesses, or employers with fewer than 25 full time employees making less than $50,000, may be eligible for tax credits to help cover the cost of insurance starting this year.

Incentives are being offered because as premiums have increased, the number of workers with employer-sponsored health coverage has declined.

Custer, with associate professor Patricia Ketsche, also of the Institute of Health Administration, developed the tool in collaboration with the Georgia Health Policy Center in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, the Florida Public Health Institute and the Center for Mississippi Health Policy.

The Georgia Health Policy Center has spearheaded a collaborative effort to break down the complexities of the nation’s health reform law through a series of policy briefs. The latest is “Health Reform Implications for Employers,” which was released last week (http://bit.ly/9u3z4q).

Other topics have included state and community implications and the impact to health care providers. Many states have come to the center to request a breakdown of health reform and its impact in their localities.

The calculator is the latest tool being offered in a series intended to help consumers, employers, providers and policy makers understand health reform.

“This has been a great opportunity to not only partner across Georgia State University, but with other states, to bring relevant information about health reform to those who will be impacted by the law,” said Karen Minyard, executive director of the Georgia Health Policy Center. “Our group’s goal from the beginning has been to interpret, share, and apply what is learned to real world situations.”

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New Organization Formed To Save Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers

/PRNewswire / -- To ensure that the independent home medical equipment (HME) providers have a voice in public policy and a seat at the table for any healthcare reform initiative, a group of home medical equipment suppliers formed the Committee to Save Independent HME Suppliers, LLC (CSI: HME). This non-profit business league was created to respond to growing threat recent policy changes pose to the future of independent medical suppliers and the patients they serve.

"For a long period, the industry has taken various positions and directions that have proven to be ineffective in changing political thinking about the home medical equipment industry," said David Petsch, owner of Petsch Respiratory in Augusta, GA, and Managing Director of CSI: HME. "CSI: HME will implement strategies designed to change political mindsets by embarking on a new path to ensure the concerns of the independent HME provider community are being addressed."

To advance its agenda, CSI: HME has retained the Capitol Hill Consulting Group, Inc., a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm to help advance its issues on Capitol Hill and the Baker Wright Group, LLC, a full service public relations firm that will work with the lobbying firm to raise consumer and media awareness of the independent home medical supplier industry. The message taken to Washington and the activities of both the lobby and public relations firms will be determined by CSI: HME's 15-25 member Legislative Activity Board (LAB).

CSI: HME's initial legislative priorities will be lobbying Congress to repeal the 36-month cap on oxygen reimbursement and the proposed competitive bidding restrictions for medical equipment.

Repeal of the 36-Month Oxygen Reimbursement Cap

Effective January 1, 2009, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) stopped payment to suppliers for oxygen equipment and services when patients reach 36 months (three years) of continuous use. Suppliers continue providing service and supplies to patients for an additional two years without payment, even if the patient relocates to another state.

This flawed policy will negatively impact patients' access to life-sustaining oxygen therapy to treat lung diseases and jeopardizes the ability for independent home medical equipment suppliers to stay in business. Other consequences include higher healthcare costs due to increased emergency room visits and nursing home care. One year of home oxygen service costs less than one day of in-patient care.

In an effort to reverse this bad policy, The Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act of 2009 (HR 2373) was introduced on May 12, 2009. CSI: HME will work with other industry partners and key legislators and their staff to gain co-sponsors and passage of the bill.

Repeal of the Competitive Bidding Program

Competitive bidding is another short-sighted policy where Medicare patients will receive diminished quality of care and denied access to the supplier of their choice with whom they've built a trusted relationship. CMS will award contracts for home medical equipment patient distribution to a limited number of suppliers who are the lowest bidders in selected regions across the country.

The program, which was initially scheduled to begin July 1, 2008 but then postponed by Congressional action last year, will be re-launched in 9 metropolitan areas and gradually expanded to include 70 other areas throughout the country. CMS will begin soliciting bids from suppliers this summer.

This policy will likely have a disastrous effect on patients who are forced to use suppliers far from where they live and will reduce the number of suppliers capable of serving Medicare in bid areas by 90%. This comes at a time when demand for such services is increasing due to the rise in Medicare beneficiaries. Durable medical equipment represents less than 1.7% of Medicare expenditures each year. In contrast, inpatient hospitals represent 27.5% and physicians 10.6% of Medicare costs.

According to CMS, about 85% of Medicare durable medical equipment suppliers are small, independent suppliers. Congress must repeal this program which will harm patient health and lead to higher costs because of reduced access to quality, experienced suppliers.

CSI: HME leadership believes that we cannot continue to do the same things and expect a different result. The organization intends to work with and compliment other organizations to further the goals of the industry. The organization will use contributions from the HME industry solely to support the lobby and PR efforts. Providers interested in helping the cause and having a voice in the message are urged to contact CSI: HME at or David Petsch at dpetsch@csihme.org.

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