WASHINGTON — Patients with at least one chronic disease who used home health care after hospitalization saved Medicare $1.7 billion over a two-year period, according to a study released May 11.
HomeCare News
Last week, CMS issued a new MLN Matters article on training Medicare patients on the use of home glucose monitors and related billing information. The Jurisdiction A DME MAC has also added a new "Test Your Knowledge" quiz on the glucose monitors LCD.
For the second time, the Federal Trade Commission has delayed enforcement of its new "Red Flags" rules requiring the implementation of identity theft prevention programs. The rules had been set for enforcement May 1, but in a last-minute decision, the commission pushed back its compliance deadline to Aug. 1. For more about the rules, see Are You Ready for the Red Flags Rule?
What are your legislative priorities? That's what the Committee to Save Independent HME Suppliers aims to find out. The newly formed group sent a survey last week to all state, regional and national industry associations and member organizations for input in figuring out "the majority position of the industry" that it will advance through lobbying and public relations efforts.
CMS canceled its May 13 Home Health, Hospice and DME Open Door Forum and said it will reschedule. Stay tuned for the new date, time and call-in number.
Providers can now register for CMS' ICD-10 Implementation and General Equivalence Mappings (Crosswalks) national provider conference call, which will be held May 19 from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. EDT. The call will include an overview of the final rule, which requires the implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS on Oct.
CMS will hold a national education conference call for Medicare fee-for-service providers on the implementation of HIPAA Version 5010. Scheduled June 9 from 2:30-4 p.m. ET, the call will give a general overview of the new version and address some of the exceptions that might be encountered as it is implemented. Registration for the call is required at http://www2.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/060909.
AAHomecare reported last week that its Regulatory Council met with CMS Director of Program Integrity Kim Brandt about the agency's increased focus on preventing fraud at the front end of the Medicare provider enrollment process.
After announcing its formation at Medtrade Spring in 2007, the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers celebrated its second anniversary in April. The group now includes members in 32 states, according to a release. "We are very proud of what we have accomplished in this short time," noted Wayne Stanfield, president and CEO.
The MED Group, Lubbock, Texas, will convene its two-day Rehab Summit tomorrow and Wednesday in Denver.
According to HHS Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson, Congress should focus on enrollment if it wants to cut down on Medicare fraud.
Last week HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced her department had set up a new Office of Health Reform to spearhead efforts on health reform legislation. The new office will coordinate with the White House Office of Health Reform, headed by Nancy-Ann DeParle. Both offices were created by an April 8 Executive Order to help deliver on health care reform this year, one of President Obama's top priorities.
Danish patient transfer manufacturer Ergolet, which has U.S. offices in Minneapolis, has hired Marsha Medlin as director of medical products. Medlin, an RN with a Masters of Public Administration, has experience in caregiver safety, serving previously in management positions for several hospitals and with her own company focusing on safe lifting.
WASHINGTON--The influential Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
has appointed two new members, including Herb Kuhn, former deputy
administrator of CMS.
WASHINGTON--Yesterday, Reps. Tom Price, R-Ga., and Heath Shuler,
D-N.C., introduced legislation to repeal the 36-month rental cap on
home oxygen therapy. The Home Oxygen Patient Protection (HOPP) Act
of 2009 (H.R. 2373) would restore payments for the period of
medical need.
In a joint statement, Price and Shuler noted the existing law
“jeopardizes the patient-provider relationship for home
oxygen care after 36 months under Medicare.”
WASHINGTON--Patients with at least one chronic disease who used
home health care after hospitalization saved Medicare $1.7 billion
over a two-year period, according to a study released May 11.
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--On May 11, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced the establishment of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Health Reform. This office will spearhead the department’s efforts to pass urgently needed health reform this year and coordinate closely with the White House Office of Health Reform. Both offices were created by an April 8 Executive Order to help deliver on one of President Obama's top priorities.
WASHINGTON — Stakeholders in the home medical equipment industry are pushing on multiple fronts to ensure the sector's voice is heard as Congress begins crafting a comprehensive health care reform package, they said last week.
WASHINGTON — Sens. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, are trying again with the STOP Act and an accompanying bill aimed at preventing and stopping Medicare and Medicaid fraud.