WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 1, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim file rule with comment period (IFC) which includes pertinent regulatory revisions for long term care (LTC) facilities in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
HomeCare News
SAN DIEGO, (September 1, 2020)—ResMed announced the launch of its AirTouch N20 nasal mask, the company’s first CPAP nasal mask with a memory foam cushion and softest nasal mask ever.
LOS ANGELES, (September 1, 2020)—The City of Los Angeles Department of Aging and Element3 Health jointly announced the launch of the End Loneliness Initiative, a collaboration aimed at curtailing the rise of social isolation and loneliness in older adults that is growing in the face of ongoing "shelter in place" measures. Loneliness and isolation had been a significant factor in older adults' health before COVID-19 and has been exacerbated by the ongoing crisis.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (September 1, 2020)—Numotion, the nation’s leading provider of complex rehab technology (CRT), has expanded into Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with the acquisition of Northland Rehab Supply. Northland was founded in 2000 and over a 20 year period, has been dedicated to serving the mobility needs of customers across South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. The founder of Northland, Bill Donat, will join Numotion and continue his commitment to serving mobility customers.
ARLINGTON, Va. (September 1, 2020)—The American Diabetes Association (ADA), along with 19 other national health groups, called on the U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to reinstate the organization’s delivery standards as well as expressed concerns over the effect the current delays could have on 133 million Americans who suffer from chronic disease and may rely on medication deliveries to receive life-saving drugs.
PHOENIX (August 28,2020)—Back in late February, Medtrade organizers announced that Medtrade Spring would get a new name and a new home. As a quick memory refresher—starting in 2021, the event will be re-introduced as Medtrade West and will convene in Phoenix, Ariz., April 12-14, 2021.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 28, 2020)—The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare—a coalition of home health leaders dedicated to developing innovative reforms to improve the program integrity, quality, and efficiency of home healthcare for our nation's seniors—submitted comments this week to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to the CY 2021 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Proposed Rule.
IRVINE, Calif. (August 28, 2020)—Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has launched F&P myMask—an app designed to guide obstructive sleep apnea patients who are new to CPAP therapy through the mask setup process.
SAN MARCOS, Calif. (August 28, 2020)—The California State University Shiley Institute for Palliative Care has been awarded the 2020 Compassionate Care Leadership Award for Organizations, presented this week by the Coalition of Compassionate Care of California.
The annual Leadership Awards recognize individuals and organizations that are changing how people with serious illnesses or those approaching end of life are cared for in California.
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., (August 28, 2020)—Oasis Senior Advisors has announced the honorees of the company's annual awards of distinction. The Franchisee of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Rising Star of the Year and Brand Champions were announced during the organization's annual conference, "Weathering the Storm, Embracing Flexibility." The conference was held virtually for the first time in its history and took place over two days, Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 28, 2020)—The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) submitted a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar on the need for clear and timely guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to state Medicaid and CHIP programs when HHS elects to end the current public health emergency (PHE).
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 28, 2020)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new targeted distribution of the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund that allocates funds to providers that treat uninsured patients during this public health emergency, in April. This funding allows providers that serviced uninsured patients on or after Feb. 4, 2020 to receive payment at Medicare allowables.
NAHC to CMS: Roll Back 2020 Rate Adjustment Based on Faulty Prediction of HHA Behavior
TIMRÅ, Sweden (August 26, 2020)—Unmatched power positioning options is just one of the many upgrades on the new 2021 M-Series designed to help wheelchair users be more active. Permobil believes end users deserve to get more out of their wheelchair, so they are also offering high-powered LED lights, new batteries and advanced integrated technology.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (August 26, 2020)—Golden Heart Senior Care, which offers non-medical homecare services, is partnering with franchise development group Fransmart to continue growing their brand nationwide through franchising. Fransmart built its reputation by launching emerging restaurant concepts like Five Guys Burgers & Fries and QDOBA Mexican Grill into the powerhouse chains they are today.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (August 25, 2020)—Compassus, a nationwide network of community-based home health, infusion therapy, palliative and hospice care programs, is one of four health care organizations recognized by the National Quality Forum’s (NQF) Next Generation Innovator Program for its innovative approach to improving quality of care.
CHICAGO (August 25, 2020)—Aetna and WellBe Senior Medical are working together to deliver home-based primary care to residents of Chicagoland living with multiple complex health conditions. By providing a new option for home-based medical care, Aetna is helping its members achieve their health goals and access high-quality care in the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Lake, McHenry, and Will.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (August 25, 2020)—eSolutions, a health care technology company, is adding an enhancement to its Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Eligibility platform that allows DME providers to check for same or similar equipment items on multiple patients at once. This new enhancement, called Same or Similar Batch, verifies all Medicare HCPCS codes, including A, L and V codes, for same or similar equipment items.
WASHIGNTON, D.C. (August 25, 2020)—Providers were expecting to receive quarterly reporting instructions from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on Aug. 17, for funds received under the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) program. However, HHS has announced a delay in this information as they are still refining data elements and formulating a template to be used for reporting. The reporting system is still expected to be available Oct. 1, 2020.
SPRINGFIELD, N.J., (August 25, 2020)—Seniors In Place, a health care service firm, has opened its first COVID-19 testing center, giving its certified home health aides and registered nurses critical access to being tested. Seniors In Place is one of a very few home health aide agencies in New Jersey with its own testing center.