EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J., Jan. 23, 2013—Community-wide quality improvement efforts, facilitated by state-based Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), correlate to almost 6 percent average declines in rehospitalizations and hospitalizations according to a study in the January 23 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
HomeCare News
RAC University will present a webinar on Medicare appeals & reimbursement on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET. Be prepared. The recent report released by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) suggesting improvements to the Administrative Law Judges' (ALJ) level of Medicare appeals will likely impact your appeals. During this important webcast, you’ll learn why it’s critical to re-examine your appeal strategies in light of the OIG recommendations.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Jan. 23, 2013–Cadence Biomedical announces a new version of their Kickstart orthosis that debuted at the annual American Physical Therapy Association conference in San Diego. Kickstart is a revolutionary wearable device that helps people with weakened muscles or disabilities regain mobility and independence.
OWINGS MILLS, Md., Jan. 25, 2013—Carli Cohen, marketing and creative design coordinator of the Board of Certification/Accreditation, had the opportunity to visit the Medical Teams International Advantage Program, an orthotic and prosthetic facility in Les Cayes, Haiti, this past fall. While there Cohen organized equipment and helped staff maximize use of their computerized database system.
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 23, 2013—The Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC), has relocated to its new headquarters in Cary, N.C. The move took place Dec. 17, 2012, and marks the end of a two-year building project spearheaded by ACHC board member General Matthew Whittington. He highlighted the move, saying, “ACHC has world class employees that are now able to work in a world class facility.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 24, 2013—The Verizon Foundation has joined the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to support its work to improve the health and independence of millions of older adults with multiple chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Chronic diseases account for the fastest growing portion of the nation’s health care costs, with nearly nine of 10 older adults having at least one chronic condition, and two-thirds having two or more.
HALIFAX, Va., Jan. 25, 2013—As reported by the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers (NAIMES)—and courtesy of VGM—although CMS has not yet announced the Round 2 bid rates, it has begun its educational outreach for DME providers, beneficiaries and referral sources. Announced late last week, CMS will begin its first series of educational programs that are geared for referral sources.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 23, 2013—On behalf of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare—a coalition of home health care agencies dedicated to developing innovative reforms to improve the program integrity, quality, and efficiency of home health care for our nation’s seniors—Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Senator John Breaux (D-LA) made the following statement.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 16, 2013—The next few months are critical if the homecare community is to be successful in enacting the Market Pricing Program. The much-needed MPP legislation—in which Congress would force CMS to implement an alternative to the current bidding system—should be the prime focus of homecare companies in the first quarter of 2013. AAHomecare will host a webinar on Friday Jan. 24, 2013, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Jan. 16, 2013—National Government Services, the Jurisdiction B durable medical equipment Medicare administrative contractor (DMEMAC) will be conducting a webinar to discuss Advance Beneficiary Notices of Noncoverage (ABN) on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, from 2 p.m. ET to 3:30 p.m. During this 1 1/2-hour webinar a presentation will be provided and then the lines will be opened for questions.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 16, 2013—Last week the American Association for Homecare met with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to discuss the post-payment audit problems that homecare providers face. GAO, which is the investigative arm of Congress charged with examining matters relating to the receipt and payment of public funds, is likely to issue a report on audits of Medicare providers later this year.
WATERLOO, Iowa, Jan, 16, 2013—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced 106 new Medicare Accountable Care Organizations on Jan. 10, bringing the total number to more than 250 under Medicare and more than 500 overall, including private insurers.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 16, 2013—Congressman Tom Price (R-Ga.) has told the American Association for Homecare that he will reintroduce the Market Pricing Program (MPP) legislation in the 113th Congress. He is dedicated to stopping the current bidding program and replacing it with MPP. Price also indicated that he will ask a senior Democratic member of the House to be the co-lead on this important legislation.
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 9, 2013—Prior to the opening of the 29th International Seating Symposium, the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology Continuing Education Program will present nine full-day workshops for rehabilitation professionals. The pre-symposium workshops will take place March 5-6 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ISS 2013 will be held March 5-9, 2013, at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center in Nashville.
TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 14, 2012—As part of Convaid’s community outreach efforts to help provide special needs children, adults, charitable organizations and schools access to the highest quality compact-folding lightweight wheelchairs, the company has recently teamed up with Mending Kids International (MKI) to donate a Cruiser wheelchair to one of MKI’s recent Cerebral Palsy patients from Guatemala.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 15, 2013—The Cambridge College School of Management is has announced the launch of the “Senior Care Management” Concentration for the Master of Management degree. The concentration will be available to graduate students beginning in Spring 2013.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 10, 2013—The new National Health Expenditures data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shows that durable medical equipment has continued to shrink as a proportion of total Medicare spending, according to the American Association for Homecare.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 10, 2013—The Jan. 7 issue of Science News attacks the mathematical underpinnings of Medicare’s competitive bidding program.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8, 2013—Prospective Medtrade Spring attendees eager to get education resolutions going can start as early as January 23, when Lisa Wells kicks off “The Fundamentals of Online Marketing.”