National Government Services, the Jurisdiction B DME MAC, reminded providers last week that it is continuing a prepayment targeted medical review for glucose testing supplies billed with the KS modifier (non-insulin treated beneficiaries).
HomeCare News
In recognition of its "outstanding and innovative in-home service to children with special needs," St. Paul, Minn.-based Pediatric Home Service has been selected as the 2009 Organization of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.
CMS' Special Edition MLN Matters article SE0832- Revised, called "The ICD-10 CM/PCS-The Next Generation of Coding," outlines general information for providers on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10) classification system. Compared to the current ICD-9 system, ICD-10 offers more detailed information in order to capture advancements in clinical medicine, the agency said.
The MED Group, Lubbock, Texas, and Phoenix-based Healthcare Networks of America have announced an agreement that allows MED members to enroll in HNA's panel of accredited DME providers. HNA said expansion of its panel, previously comprised only of physicians, is an important step in growing its network. MED will also serve as HNA’s credentialing and compliance manager for those members who enroll.
Dynamic Seminars & Consulting, led by popular HomeCare columnist Louis Feuer, is moving. As of June 12, the company's new location will be: 2955 NW 126 Ave., #307, Pembroke Pines, FL 33323. Phone: 954/838-7504.
Average medical spending for a typical American family increased 7.4 percent between 2008 and 2009, according to a Milliman Inc. report. Total medical costs in 2009 for a typical family of four will be $16,771, compared with $15,609 in 2008, the resport said. While the percentage of the cost increase declined for the third straight year, the total dollar increase was the highest since 2006, the study found.
WASHINGTON--Last week Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., introduced
the Medicare O&P Improvements Act of 2009 (H.R. 2479). The
legislation would assure licensure compliance, accreditation and
qualifications of orthotic and prosthetic providers who treat
Medicare patients.
WASHINGTON--Americans living with undiagnosed diabetes incur an
estimated $18 billion in health care expenditures each year, or
$2,864 per person in medical services and lost productivity from
diabetes-related complications, according to a new study by the
National Changing Diabetes
Program published in the journal Population Health
Management.
ARLINGTON, Va.--A slightly modified version of the Request for
Bids instructions and accompanying forms will be published by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services when a rebidding of
round one of competitive bidding occurs, the American Association
for Homecare reported Wednesday.
WASHINGTON--A new audit report from the Department of Health and
Human Services’ Office of Inspector General throws into
question the accuracy of the 2008 DME error rate claimed by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
According to the new OIG report, a review of 250 sampled claims
showed 175 to be in error—far beyond the 23 errors claimed by
the contractor that conducts comprehensive error rate testing for
CMS.
WASHINGTON--The Department of Justice and the Department of
Health and Human Services are joining forces to combat Medicare and
Medicaid fraud, they announced Wednesday, and one of their first
efforts will be to target durable medical equipment
fraud.
ALLENTOWN, Pa.--Air Products said last week it has sold three
more of its U.S. health care businesses to Mt. Vernon, New
York-based Landauer-Metropolitan, Inc. Terms of the deal were not
disclosed.
INDIANAPOLIS--Arcadia Resources has announced the sale of its
home health equipment and industrial staffing business in three
separate transactions and is now focused on two divisions: Arcadia
Home Care/Medical Staffing and DailyMed pharmacy services. The HHE
transactions have been closed, and a definitive agreement has been
signed for the sale of the industrial staffing business, which will
close on May 29.
WASHINGTON--Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee released a
list of revenue options for financing health care reform and, no
surprise, reimbursement reductions for home medical equipment were
listed as a potential option.
FARGO, N.D.--Noridian Administrative has issued instructions for
resubmission of oxygen claims “for subsequent months if
[providers] have received payment for the initial replacement month
(the claim with the RA or RP modifier).”
RALEIGH, N.C.--The Accreditation Commission for Health Care, has
announced a new sleep lab accreditation program.
One of 10 accrediting bodies approved for DMEPOS accreditation by
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ACHC's sleep lab
program was created specifically for freestanding and
hospital-based sleep labs “and includes the clinical aspect
of patient care focusing on the testing of a patient,”
according to a release.
WASHINGTON — Home oxygen providers got a boost last week when Reps. Tom Price, R-Ga., and Heath Shuler, D-N.C., introduced legislation to repeal the 36-month rental cap on home oxygen therapy — and it couldn't come at a more critical time.
BALTIMORE — CMS has announced the June 4 meeting of its new Program Advisory and Oversight Committee to discuss the Round One rebid of competitive bidding is open for public registration.
According to a CMS notice:
WASHINGTON — Medicare's Part A hospital trust fund assets will run out in 2017, two years earlier than previously projected, according to a May 12 report from the program's trustees.
WASHINGTON — The influential Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has appointed two new members, including Herb Kuhn, former deputy administrator of CMS.