Is Hy-Tape® reimbursed by Medicare in any other way?
If a Medicare certified home health agency supplies Hy-Tape® to a patient and bills it as medically necessary and essential to the treatment plan, it may be covered. In this case, Hy-Tape® may be used for any patient condition as long as it is included in the plan of treatment (Form 485-486). For example, it could be medically necessary to secure a wound dressing, a gastrostomy tube, an ostomy pouch, a fecal incontinence collector, an I.V., or for any other use as documented by the nurse and ordered by the attending physician. Medical suppliers should contract with Medicare certified home health agencies to provide Hy-Tape® for their use. The agency then bills Medicare for their costs which is the initial cost of Hy-Tape® plus a mark-up, based on the expense of doing business. Note that a prospective payment system for home health care is due to take effect in 1999. Under this payment method, home health agencies will receive a fixed payment amount per patient.
