HomeCare News

The Board of Certification/Accreditation, International said in a press release Thursday that it would permanently suspend the BOC Footwear Specialist certificate program.

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice has launched a new home care public relations campaign, "Help Us Choose Home," complete with a new Web site (www.HelpUsChooseHome.com) that went live on March 24.

Uplift Technologies, based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, launched its Second Annual Charity Challenge April 20 to provide support for arthritis research and other charitable causes.

An amendment that would have set a $50 million maximum on the amount a whistleblower can collect through a False Claims Act lawsuit was rejected by the Senate in a 31-61 vote on Thursday. The awards can currently reach 30 percent of the total recovered for the government if a judge approves that much. Sen.

A Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll found that six in 10 Americans say they or a member of their household have delayed or skipped health care in the past year. The monthly poll found 42 percent of participants used home remedies and over-the-counter drugs instead of visiting the doctor, and 36 percent skipped dental care or checkups.

According to the Associated Press, bed bugs have made a comeback in what is being called "the biggest outbreak since World War II." Recently, the small, flat brown bugs have gotten back into the country via international travel. The Environmental Protection Agency held its first National Bed Bug Summit earlier this month to discuss the expanding impact bed bugs are having and figure out how to control the pests.

WASHINGTON--Senate Democrats were working toward a fast vote on confirmation of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as Health and Human Services secretary--the only remaining Cabinet seat left to be filled--but those efforts were put on hold this morning by Republicans in the chamber.

WASHINGTON--The results of a new study from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation show there are nearly 1 in 50 Americans living with paralysis, almost 40 percent higher than previous estimates. The study, which surveyed more than 33,000 households, also shows more than five times the number of people living with spinal cord injury than previously thought.
 

WASHINGTON--In a 15-8 vote this morning, the Senate Finance Committee approved Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as secretary of Health and Human Services.

A vote in the full Senate, which must confirm the nomination, is expected later this week.

WASHINGTON — Ignoring pleas from scores of legislators, consumer organizations and HME associations representing thousands of home medical equipment providers, CMS refused Friday to rescind the interim final rule for DMEPOS competitive bidding.

The IFR, which requires a rebid of Round One in 2009, went into effect Saturday, April 18.

BALTIMORE — On Friday afternoon, CMS issued a statement regarding the April 18 effective date for the interim final rule on DMEPOS competitive bidding. The full text of the statement follows:

WASHINGTON — According to Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform, Congress has "been convinced before that a more competitive marketplace for durable medical equipment is the right way to move forward, and I think there is a way to do that and to meet them halfway."

BALTIMORE — A DME MAC notice last week added podiatrists to the list of providers who are exempt from CMS' accreditation requirement.

While they were not specifically listed as exempt in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, the notice said, podiatrists are included under the definition of a physician as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act.

WASHINGTON — The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act has been signed into law by President Obama as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management bill.

WASHINGTON — The Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act (H.R. 1829), introduced March 31 by Reps. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.C.; Tim Murphy, R-Pa.; and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., would allow physical therapists to evaluate and treat beneficiaries without a physician referral.

WASHINGTON — Long-time disability advocate Henry Claypool has been named director of the HHS Office on Disability. In his new position, Claypool will serve as the primary adviser to the HHS secretary on disability policy and will oversee the implementation of all HHS programs pertaining to Americans with disabilities.

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Apria Healthcare announced last week the giant provider will eliminate 90 jobs at its billing office in Machesney Park, Ill.

Citing consolidation due to Medicare cuts, Apria Executive Vice President Lisa Getson told Business Rockford that seven billing centers nationwide will be affected over the next 12 months.

CROYDON, Pa. — Bilt-Rite/Mastex has moved into an expanded 26,000-sq. ft. manufacturing facility just outside of Philadelphia. The new plant also includes a larger warehouse failicity where more finished products can be kept on hand, according to a release. "Our new expanded plant is amazing," said Will Palmer, operations manager. "Despite the slowing economy, American manufacturing is alive and well at Bilt-Rite/Mastex.

ILLINGS, Mont. — David Schaer has been named president of Computers Unlimited in the company's first management transition in more than 30 years. With its roots in cylinder and inventory management software for the industrial welding supply and HME industries, the software company was founded in 1978 by David Schaer's father Michael Schaer.

ELKRIDGE, Md. — Dynamed Solutions has announed a pilot for the first commercial use of its HealtheTrax software service to minotor patients new to CPAP therapy.