ATLANTA — Home care providers reacted with shock at the news that former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., had withdrawn his nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services. "While we are not in any worse shape because he withdrew, it is a blow to what could have been," said Tim Pederson, CEO of WestMed Rehab, Rapid City, S.D.
HomeCare News
ATLANTA — Following the introduction of a bill Jan. 21 that would exempt pharmacies from accreditation, last week three pharmacy groups asked CMS to reconsider its new $50,000 surety bond rule.
BALTIMORE — CMS said Friday it's set to get going again with implementation of the national recovery audit contractor program.
The agency awarded contracts to four recovery audit contractors, or RACs, in October, but contract protests put implementation on hold. Those protests were resolved Feb. 6, CMS said, so ramp-up of the program will now continue.
WATERLOO, Iowa — VGM Group said Friday it has entered the exploding home modifications market with a new company called Accessible Home Improvement of America.
ATLANTA — Accreditors reported an influx of DMEPOS providers striving to meet CMS' soft Jan. 31 application date, but whether there will be enough companies accredited by the Sept. 30 mandatory date to serve Medicare beneficiaries is anyone's guess.
AMARILLO, Texas — With all the confusion surrounding CMS' new post-cap oxygen payment rules, it's time for some answers. In a special series for HomeCare Monday, Lisa K.
Calling it "the first step" to health coverage for "every single American," on Wednesday President Obama signed the SCHIP bill into law to reauthorize and expand the program. The State Children's Health Insurance Program, which covers low-income children whose families don't qualify for Medicaid, was to expire March 31 without congressional action.
As President Obama's advisers mull new choices to lead the nation's health care reform effort, Republicans in the House of Representatives have set up a task force to shape their version of health reform legislation. The group includes several members who have championed HME issues, among them Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga.
CMS has scheduled its next Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forum Feb. 18 from 2-3 pm ET. To participate by phone, call 800/837-1935 and reference Conference ID 70015483.
AAHomecare's Medical Supplies Council sent a letter to the DME MAC medical directors Wednesday asking for help on getting medical records documentation from physicians for glucose testing supplies.
Having trouble keeping up with new policies, new rules, new payments? Then catch up with the DME MACs at Medtrade Spring.
BALTIMORE — CMS issued additional guidance on oxygen billing Jan. 27, and, while the instruction came three weeks after the 36-month oxygen cap took effect Jan. 1, it did bring a few small sighs of relief.
WASHINGTON — Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced a wide-ranging health care bill Tuesday that seeks to exempt rural areas from DMEPOS competitive bidding. Specifically, the measure applies to MSAs with a population of 600,000 or less.
ATLANTA — Struggling under a 9.5 percent reimbursement cut that took effect Jan. 1, complex rehab providers are appealing to legislators to reverse the cut, and they're looking to consumer groups to add muscle to the message.
ELYRIA, Ohio — On Thursday, Invacare Corp. announced its
AMARILLO, Texas — With all the confusion surrounding CMS' new post-cap oxygen payment rules, it's time for some answers. In a special series for HomeCare Monday, Lisa K. Smith, Esq., an attorney with the Health Care Group at Brown & Fortunato, P.C., a law firm based in Amarillo, Texas, responds to several of home medical equipment providers' most common questions about the new rules.
SAN DIEGO — SeQual Technologies said Jan. 15 its Eclipse oxygen concentrator has received Airworthiness certification from the U.S. Army for use aboard MEDEVAC H-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
PHILADELPHIA — Orthopedic supports manufacturer Bilt-Rite Orthopedics and Safety has acquired the Medical Products division of Mastex Industries, which makes hot and cold therapy packs, heating pads, wheelchair cushions, mattress overlays and other comfort pillow products. Mastex brands include Gel-eeze overlays and Thermalfreeze therapy packs. Bi
WAYNE, Pa. — Paragon Ventures announced last week it has formed Highway Capital to provide business owners with access to broad-based capital for growth, recapitalization and expansion.
MIAMI — Independent Living Systems, a management services company focused on introducing managed care to populations with chronic care and other special care needs, has appointed Josefina G. Carbonell as senior vice president of long-term care.