Salvaging MACRA Implementation Through Medicare Advantage
Recently, Peter S. Hussey and colleagues considered the effects of MACRA on Medicare spending and use and how the effects might differ under various scenarios. (John O’Shea/Health Affairs Blog)
HomeCare News
ATLANTA (October 20, 2017)—The rumor is true. Show organizers are concluding this year’s Medtrade with a $5,000 cash giveaway. Qualifying to receive the prize is fairly easy.
To enter the cash giveaway drawing, attendees will receive cash giveaway cards at registration, along with their badges. Attendees must take their cards to the booths of 10 sponsors and get the cards stamped at each sponsor’s booth. The list of sponsors will be shown on the cards.
ATLANTA (October 19, 2017)—Brightree LLC, a leading provider of cloud-based software to improve business and clinical performance of post-acute care organizations, announced the launch of Brightree ConnectPRO, a powerful resupply management program that combines all of its technology, services and data analytics into one time-saving solution.
Brightree ConnectPRO includes:
BOSTON (October 18, 2017)—Orbita, Inc. announced a major upgrade to its Orbita Voice platform that enables health care organizations and service providers to create and maintain powerful applications for voice-assistants and conversational AI platforms such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This latest version of Orbita Voice adds important new features to accelerate development and streamline maintenance of voice-first, enterprise health care applications, including:
High attendee ratings reflect excellent program offerings.
DULUTH, Minn. (October 17, 2017)—The 2017 MAMES Fall Excellence in HME Conference closed out on Friday, October 6, 2017 in Welch, Minnesota with record-breaking fall conference attendance and an incredible 40 percent increase in attendance from 2016. Attendees also rated the educational, informational, networking and display hall event a record-breaking perfect 4.0, the highest ever recorded rating for a MAMES Fall Excellence in HME Conference.
MEDIA, Penn. (October 17, 2017)—Apacheta Corporation, a mobile business solutions provider, today announced it has expanded its partnership with Brightree, a provider of cloud-based software to improve clinical and business performance of post-acute care companies, by offering customers the ability to use the Brightree Patient Collections app GetPaidHME with Apacheta software.
IRVINE, Calif. (October 16, 2017)—Jet Health, Inc., a fast-growing home health care provider, announced today the acquisition of Alpine Plus Home Health, a Richardson, Texas-based home health agency that provides skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, medical social and companion care services.
The Digest highlights the annual benchmarking survey.
ORLANDO, Fla. (October 16, 2017)—The 2017 NCPA Digest, sponsored by Cardinal Health, was unveiled today at the National Community Pharmacists Association’s Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida. The annual benchmarking survey finds that independent community pharmacies continue to strengthen and expand the scope of services they offer patients while absorbing lower reimbursements for dispensing prescription drugs.
The event pointed high school students with disabilities toward career paths at the company.
EXETER, Penn. (October 16, 2017)—Pride Mobility Products and Quantum Rehab®offered approximately 20 students with disabilities an opportunity to be mentored by career professionals in various fields at Pride and Quantum during Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) 2017 on Wednesday, October 11, at the company’s Duryea facility.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (October 13, 2017)—Lynda Scully, MassHealth DME program manager announced a public hearing on October 31 for comments on proposed regulation and fee schedule changes at the HOMES fall membership meeting last week. HOMES was informed that the public hearing has been delayed. As soon as it has been rescheduled, HOMES will inform members.
Visit homesne.org for more information.
The legislation also addresses oxygen double dipping.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 12, 2017)—Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) has been working on legislation to provide relief for non-CB areas and address the “double-dip” cuts on oxygen; you can see a draft of the legislation here.
Sheehan will be honored at the Stand Up for Homecare reception at Medtrade 2017.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 11, 2017)—Industry advocate and leader Gary Sheehan, president and CEO of Massachusetts-based Cape Medical Supply, will be honored as the recipient of the 2017 Van Miller Homecare Champion Award at the upcoming Stand Up for Homecare reception on October 24, in Atlanta.
OMHA is no longer sharing detailed workload data.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 11, 2017)—For the third quarter of 2017, the average processing time for the third level of Medicare appeals is 1,082 days, or almost 3 years. This is a 41-day increase in the wait time at the Administrative Law Judge level (ALJ) since earlier this year and a 205-day increase from last year. In addition, as of July of this year, the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) has published that the overturn rate of appeals at the ALJ is 28.3 percent.
WINTER PARK, Fla. (October 11, 2017)—HomeCare Connect, which manages the quality and cost of home health care, durable medical equipment and home modifications in workers’ compensation, has appointed Bob Schmidt as national vice president, sales management. Schmidt directs the company’s national sales programs and leads its sales force.
Franchise expands footprint across state
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (October 11, 2017)—Always Best Care Senior Services announces that Carlos A. Martinez Jr. has opened Always Best Care of McAllen.
Located at 108 N. Jackson Road, Suite 22 in Edinburg, Texas, the new agency provides senior care in McAllen and the surrounding communities of Mission, Edinburg, Sharyland and Pharr. Martinez operates the business alongside general manager, Marina De Leon.
1,000 beneficiaries, case managers and suppliers participated to help paint a picture of access in the industry.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 10, 2017)—Health care research firm Dobson DaVanzo & Associates has finalized and released the report Access to Home Medical Equipment: Survey of Beneficiary, Case Manager and Supplier Experiences.
Forms, signatures reviewed before next delivery
MEDIA, Penn. (October 9, 2017)—Apacheta Corporation, a mobile business solutions provider, launched its latest product, Forms Manager, which offers the ability to maintain compliance by ensuring all required forms are reviewed at the time of service.
OLD FORGE, Pa. (October 9, 2017)—Golden Technologies is changing the way retailers and consumers charge their scooter batteries to keep mobility at top speed with its innovative battery docking station that will greatly increase the ability to stay on the move.
How the Elderly Lose Their Rights
Guardians can sell the assets and control the lives of senior citizens without their consent—and reap a profit from it. (Rachel Aviv/The New Yorker)