As reported by Ilene MacDonald with FierceHealthcare, although the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to tout the success of the Pioneer accountable care organizations, the agency confirmed in an announcement that nine will leave the experimental program. The agency confirmed that Pioneers are abandoning the program, saying that seven did not produce savings and intend to apply to the alternative ACO model, the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).
“Home Sleep Testing and the CPAP Provider: What Kind of Relationship Can There Be?” will be held July 30 from 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET. Awareness about obstructive sleep apnea today is similar to awareness of diabetes 15 years ago. Most physicians (not just pulmonologists) are aware that OSA leads to many health problems. The opportunity for the DME provider is to be able to sell CPAP to the patient as well as the supplies (mask, tubing and filter) on a regular basis thereafter.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 11, 2013—Just nine days into Round 2, AAHomecare is receiving reports of delays, equipment shortages and contractors refusing services in bid areas around the country. Yet, CMS is reporting just a few dozen complaints.
RICHMOND HILL, N.Y., July 11, 2013—CareActive, a division of CareApparel, is set to roll out their new line of HME/DME products such as reusable incontinence products, diabetic footwear, bibs, wheelchair accessories, bed pads and other items. This value priced lineup will hit retailers in the Fall of 2013. CareActive will debut the new line at two Nationwide Trade Shows.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2013—Paralyzed Veterans of America is proud to announce that Invacare Corporation will serve as a National Host Sponsor for the 33rd National Veterans Wheelchair Games, which kicked off this weekend in Tampa, Fla., and will run from July 13-18. Invacare has supported the Games since its inception in 1981.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 10, 2013—According to PRNewswire-USNewswire, a new national poll of more than 1,100 American seniors who are registered voters—released by the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare—finds that 93 percent of seniors surveyed think Congress should advance reforms to stop Medicare fraud over cuts to Medicare payments or increased fees on seniors' Medicare services. The survey further indicates that seniors believe any new out-of-pocket cost r
“Home Sleep Testing and the CPAP Provider: What Kind of Relationship Can There Be?” will be held July 30 from 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET. Awareness about obstructive sleep apnea today is similar to awareness of diabetes 15 years ago. Most physicians (not just pulmonologists) are aware that OSA leads to many health problems. The opportunity for the DME provider is to be able to sell CPAP to the patient as well as the supplies (mask, tubing and filter) on a regular basis thereafter.
MUNDELEIN, ILL., July 10, 2013—Medline Industries Inc. is giving a makeover to its iconic medical scrubs worn by nurses and doctors for decades with the launch of AVE., a new collection of clinical scrubs that introduces sophistication and style to traditional clinical wear.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is launching a new instrument for 2013 called the Medicare Administrative Contractor Satisfaction Indicator (MSI). The MSI is a tool that measures your satisfaction with the Medicare claims administrative contractor(s) that serve you. This measuring tool will provide the best opportunity for you to rate your satisfaction with your MAC. Your input will help your MAC to improve the services that they offer you.
TORRANCE, Calif., July 1, 2013—Convaid’s unique self-tensioning system has always been a part of their compact folding, lightweight wheelchairs. But due to its unique capabilities, Convaid decided it deserved to be branded with its own name: Self-TensioTM.
SARASOTA, Fla, July 1,2013—Accessibility and Mobility manufacturer, Harmar, has announced the hiring of additional personnel centered on further improving operations, engineering, and quality systems.
PromenAid, manufacturer of the accessibility industry’s strongest and easiest to install handrail, announces the introduction of the PromenAid ADA Return. The quick-connect accessory to the PromenAid handrail provides a simple assembly that complies with ADA requirements for terminating railings with a curve to the wall.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1, 2013—Although you may not have felt it, on July 1, 2013, the earth certainly moved under the feet of DME suppliers across the country. It was the beginnings of a tectonic shift in how consumers will get their home medical equipment and supplies. Cracks began to show up on the surface of the DME world over the past months but on July 1, fissures began to open up that will swallow a large number of suppliers and the patients they serve.
ATLANTA, Ga., July 1, 2013—GF Health Products, Inc. (“Graham-Field”) is proud to introduce the all-new Lumex® Patriot LX Homecare Bed. “We wanted to completely rethink the way a homecare bed is designed,” said Cynthia Counts, vice president of homecare sales and marketing. “We took what we learned from designing and manufacturing beds for the long term care market and applied it to the most unique homecare bed in the industry.
BALTIMORE, Md., July 5, 2013—The Coordination of Benefits and Medicare Secondary Payer Recovery sections on the Medicare tab of the cms.gov website have been combined into a single, comprehensive section titled Coordination of Benefits & Recovery. The redesign consolidates information into groupings by audience and topic. To access the new Web pages go to www.cms.gov and click on the Medicare tab near the top of the page.
The webinar “Operational Best Practices in Today’s Climate” hosted by Miriam Lieber will be held July 10 at 1:00 CST. As the fiascoes persist with CMS and as they trickle down to other third party payers, what are HME providers doing to stay afloat? Discuss tactics used by your colleagues and learn about pitfalls to avoid. One thing is certain, operational efficiencies are no longer optional, they are simply a must in today's environment.