HomeCare News

ARLINGTON, Va.—The American Association for Homecare is dialing up the noise about the role of home care in health care reform as the massive system overhaul whizzes through Congress.
 
The association has invited Washington press to join former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., and other health care representatives at a Capitol Hill roundtable on Tuesday, July 2.  
 

WASHINGTON—As legislation aimed at health care reform continues its speedy path through the House—the Ways and Means, Education and Labor and Energy and Commerce committees are expected to vote on their $1 trillion plan today—the DMEPOS competitive bidding program is also moving ahead.
 

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--According to WheelchairFX founder Tom Rapp, wheelchair accessories such as lights and other bells and whistles typically drain battery life. But the company’s new lights, fashioned with LED technology, don’t cause that problem.

EXETER, Pa.—With an eye on education, Pride Mobility Products has launched two programs, one geared to educating the public about living with disabilities and the other toward providing educational tools to end-users.

Quantum Rehab, the complex rehab division of Exeter, Pa.-based Pride, has put in motion a new outreach program, Quantum Speak Out, to increase disability awareness through community involvement.

WASHINGTON—Today, Reps. Mike Ross, D-Ark., and Kendrick Meek, D-Fla., introduced an oxygen reform bill that calls for sweeping changes in Medicare’s oxygen benefit.
 
Dubbed the Medicare Home Oxygen Therapy Act of 2009 (H.R. 3220), the bill would eliminate the 36-month cap, exempt home oxygen from competitive bidding, and recognize the services essential in providing home oxygen therapy.
 

WASHINGTON—Earlier today, the House Tri-Committee—made up of the Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees—released an updated draft of its massive health care reform bill.
 

MELBOURNE, Fla.—It might not be teetering on the verge of complete collapse, but the HME industry is definitely perched on the ledge of consolidation, according to industry consultant Wallace Weeks. That means the time is now for providers to choose their role in the new HME world.    

WASHINGTON — After a weeks-long wait as the New Oxygen Committee's oxygen reform bill was drafted into legislative language, the American Association for Homecare reported last week it expects the bill to be introduced today by Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., a former HME owner.

BALTIMORE — On Friday, CMS released a special MLN Matters article on the steps providers should take to get ready for registration in the Round 1 rebid for Medicare DMEPOS. Although exact dates have not been announced, according to a CMS timeline, bid registration will open this summer with bidding set to begin in the fall.

BALTIMORE — In a move that could constrict provider choice, CMS is proposing tightening up the grandfathering provision for the new round of DMEPOS competitive bidding, according to the 2010 physician fee schedule proposed rule published in today's Federal Register.

WASHINGTON — Last week Roll Call, the popular Capitol Hill newspaper, published an editorial by American Association for Homecare President Tyler Wilson on the importance of home care in overall health care reform.

AMARILLO, Texas — "Out of necessity, HME providers are looking at ways to cut costs," notes heath care attorney Jeff Baird, chairman of the Health Care Group at Brown & Fortunato. "In doing so, however, it is important for the provider to continue to fulfill the post-delivery obligations that are imposed by the Supplier Standards."

VGM is calling on all DME providers and their employees to send letters to the editors of local press. As the discussion on health reform continues, the Waterloo, Iowa-based member services group said it's time that Congress understands home health care is the solution to rising costs and is also preferred by the majority of Americans.

CMS has set a special Open Door Forum conference call Wednesday, July 15, from 1-2:30 p.m. ET to address its Medicaid Integrity Program.

SOMERSET, Pa.—DeVilbiss Healthcare today announced a new senior management team.  

Alan Panzer is president and CEO; Joseph Howard is vice president of marketing; Erika Laskey is vice president of sales, North America; Michael Panian is vice president/general counsel; Michael Blatzer is vice president of logistics; and Alan Doty is vice president of manufacturing.

WASHINGTON—The obesity epidemic in America is not only harming the health of millions but is also contributing to skyrocketing health care costs. According to the sixth annual “F as in Fat” study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America's Health, obesity trends in the United States are not appetizing.
 

ATLANTA — In spite of CMS' warnings that their Medicare billing privileges will be revoked without one, there are plenty of HME companies that haven't yet obtained a surety bond, according to a recent HomeCare poll.
 

ATLANTA—With Congress in the midst of debate on massive House and Senate packages to reform the nation’s health care system, lately it’s been hard to keep up with the legislative proposals flying across Capitol Hill.
 

ATLANTA—While Lennon and McCartney had a hit in 1968 with Chuck Berry’s “Back in the USSR,” Graham-Field said it’s hoping for a hit of its own with a new strategic initiative dubbed “Back in the USA.”
 
Under the program, the company announced it is moving some manufacturing back to the United States.
 

BALTIMORE—According to CMS officials, there are rumors floating around about both accreditation and surety bonds, and what HME providers can and can’t do if they don’t have either by the respective Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 deadlines.