Public Policy Update from Director of Government Relations
WOCN members, and other advocates, have been working in several states across the country to ensure that ostomy patients who are covered by Medicaid have access to the supplies they need. As you may know, many state Medicaid programs fail to provide adequate extended wear ostomy products, which in many instances is well below even the Medicare standards. Thanks to the advocacy of WOCN members and others, five states have recently expanded their monthly allotment of products, but we have more work to do. There are an additional nine states that still have inadequate monthly limits on ostomy supplies and we need your help.
Please refer to the attached infographic which lists both the states who have recently increased their limits and those that still haven’t. For those regions and affiliates in Rhode Island, New Jersey, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Florida please note the new changes in coverage in the attached document, this will enable you to better treat your patients. If you live or represent one of the nine states that have not yet increased their allotments, please contact WOCN to find out how you can get involved.
https://mideastregion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/OC-EW-Market-Access-1.28.22.pdf