LANDOVER, MD. (May 18, 2016)—This spring allergy season marks the 10th anniversary of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s (AAFA) asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program. Over 60 million Americans living with asthma and allergies have learned to trust consumer products and services that have earned the asthma & allergy friendly Certification Mark.
HomeCare News
BETHESDA, Md. (May 17, 2016)—Capital One announced today that it served as administrative agent and lead bookrunner for a $65 million senior secured credit facility to support the acquisition of National Home Health Care Corporation by Blue Wolf Capital.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 16, 2016)—AAHomecare announced that Laura Williard will join the association to identify opportunities for AAHomecare to meet the ever-changing needs of the home medical equipment community.
SAN FRANCISCO (May 16, 2016)—Patients using in-home life support and their clinicians are about to enjoy the latest in home health technology, remote patient monitoring, thanks to the world’s first cellular, cloud-connected in-home life support ventilators.
Indiana Project to Reduce Hospitalization of Nursing Home Residents Gets Boost
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) thinks Indiana University may be on to something when it comes to more effective nursing home care. (Liz Seeger/Covering Health)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 13, 2016)—The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare—a coalition of home health providers dedicated to improving the integrity, quality, and efficiency of home health care for our nation's seniors—recently expressed deep concern regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposal to require the prior authorization of Medicare home health services.
BLAINE, MINN. (May 12, 2016)—Introducing the new Thermoskin Thermal Ankle Brace. Provides heat therapy, increased circulation along with light compression. Pull on design with anti-slip sole helps prevent slipping while two removable side stabilizers provide additional ankle support. Ideal for arthritis, diabetes, weak ankles, cold and sensitive feet. The Thermoskin Thermal Ankle Brace has received a PDAC HCPCS coding verification letter.
Washington, D.C. (May 12, 2016)—The highly anticipated companion bill to S. 2736, the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment (PADME) Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives on Thursday, May 12, 2016. H.R. 5210 was introduced by Representatives Tom Price, M.D. (R-Ga.) and Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa). This bill has gathered broad bi-partisan support as it has been introduced with 40 original co-sponsors including Reps.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2016)—Today CMS published a revision to SE1521, which places limits on the scope of review for redeterminations and reconsiderations of certain claims. When this was originally published in 2015, AAHomecare worked with CMS to have the instruction expanded to include complex prepayment audits.
This should be helpful as suppliers work through the audit and appeal process!
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2016)—This week, AAHomecare submitted comments on the proposed demonstration to revise Part B Medicare prescription drug payments under the Agency’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).
WINTERTHUR, Switzerland (May 11, 2016)—SIGVARIS is excited to announce that it has completed a definitive agreement to purchase the BiaCare business, located in Zeeland, Michigan.
PEACHTREE CITY, GA (May 11, 2016)—SIGVARIS North America is putting its best foot forward this summer with the launch of several new graduated compression product additions to the MICROFIBER SHADES line.
MICROFIBER SHADES was designed to give people a fun, new way to wear compression every day as well as start conversations with new and first time users about the health benefits of wearing compression.
WATERLOO, Iowa (May 10, 2016)—As part of an aggressive grassroots effort to advocate for the HME industry, VGM’s Government Relations team has been coordinating members to testify during the Small Business Administration’s regional regulatory fairness hearings.
House Letter Airs Concerns About Medicare Part B Drug Payment Demo
Dozens of House members wrote to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt asking that the Medicare Part B drug payment demo program be withdrawn. (Mary Ellen McIntire/Morning Consult)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 6, 2016)—As anticipated last week, the DME MACs collectively released revised coding and coverage requirements for ventilators in the Frequent and Substantial Servicing (FSS) payment category. The new guidance removes the imminent death criteria from the coverage, which is now applicable under the following conditions:
LA MESA, CALIF. (May 5, 2016)—In a move into the CPAP market, California-based Captive Technologies has announced plans for a new product line that extends its efforts to support dealer-providers with a full array of cash sale products in the respiratory space.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 5, 2016)—The long-awaited House competitive-bidding rural relief and bid-ceiling fix bill is expected to drop next week—a current working draft of the legislation can be found here; it is the House companion to S. 2736.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 5, 2016)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Round 2 Recompete and national mail-order recompete contract suppliers for Medicare’s Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (May 5, 2016)—This year, Alex Orthopedic, Inc., is celebrating 30 years in business. Founded in 1986, the company began as a manufacturer of Orthopedic Soft Goods and soon expanded to include pillows, cushions, DME, diagnostic products, compression hosiery and, finally, designer canes. To help customers participate in the celebration, the company is offering a 30 percent discount on pillow orders of $300 or more. The offer ends June 30.