WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 10, 2013—The American Association for Homecare is pleased to announce that Rachel Prager has joined its government relations team as manager of regulatory affairs. She will be working on a range of Medicare regulatory and audit issues on behalf of AAHomecare members.
HomeCare News
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8, 2013—At the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Royal Philips Electronics announced the Philips Lifeline GoSafe, a new mobile personal emergency response system (PERS) that is designed to help seniors get more out of life.
ATLANTA, Jan. 4, 2013—Brightree LLC, the leading provider of billing and business management software solutions for the home medical equipment (HME) market, has acquired home health and hospice software provider CareAnyware, Inc., of Raleigh, N.C.
DASSEL, Minn., January 8, 2013—Crest Healthcare Supply has released its new 2013 product catalog.
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 10, 2013—National Government Services—the Jurisdiction B Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC)—will be offering a free 90-minute Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS) webinar on Weds., Jan. 23, 2013. This webinar will be conducted from 2:00-3:30 p.m. eastern time (ET) and is geared toward all suppliers who bill the DME MAC for TENS units and supplies.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 3, 2012—Yesterday Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) introduced a bill, H.R. 27, to repeal the Medicare bidding program.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 3, 2013—The bill, the American Taxpayer Relief Act, includes a one-year “doc fix” which means that Congress will again postpone the scheduled cuts in physicians’ Medicare pay that are required by the sustainable growth rate, which was set up many years ago. The doc fix is paid for largely by cuts in Medicare payments to hospitals. The Market Pricing Program (MPP) to replace the current bidding program was not included in the final bill.
CUMMING, Ga., Jan. 2, 2013—According to the Accredited Medical Equipment Suppliers of America (AMEPA), the non-mail order diabetic supply sector did not fare well in the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, also known as the “fiscal cliff” bill. Congress included legislation influenced by “inherent reasonableness authority” to apply national mail order single payment rates on non-mail order diabetic testing supplies.
TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 2, 2013—The industry leader in lightweight, compact folding pediatric wheelchairs, Convaid, Inc., continues its quest to put safety first by having all their business development representatives nationally certified as Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) and training them in adaptive positioning from Safe Travel for All Children.
ELYRIA, Ohio, Dec. 21., 2012—Invacare Corporation IVC and AssuraMed have signed a definitive agreement under which Invacare will sell Invacare Supply Group, its domestic medical supplies business, to AssuraMed for $150 million, subject to certain closing adjustments. This divestiture is consistent with Invacare's focus on its globalization strategy to harmonize core global product lines and reduce complexity within its business.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Jan. 3, 2013—Tactile Systems Technology Inc., a Minneapolis-based developer of chronic swelling and vascular disease therapies, is adding veteran leadership and top medical talent as it prepares to enter new markets and broaden its treatment portfolio. The appointments include a new chairman of the board of directors, a scientific advisory board and a chief medical officer.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Jan. 3, 2013—Independa announces that it has closed its Series A Preferred Stock financing round at $5 million after receiving new investments to fund expanded sales, research and development, and distribution of its technology-enabled independent-living solutions. The latest funding comes from health care investment firm City Hill Ventures, a previous investor, and strategic partner LG Electronics USA, with participation by additional investors.
RACmonitor will offer “Coding for the Non-Coder” on Thursday Jan. 10, 2013, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. The webinar is designed specifically for non-coders and is ideal for doctors, physician’s assistants, nurses, office staff, administrators, and coding and billing instructors, as well as those interested in moving toward being more involved in coding.
HINGHAM, Mass., Jan. 2, 2013—In an effort to continue to enhance its educational efforts, DME MAC Jurisdiction A is pleased to announce the addition of a new “Test Your Knowledge” quiz. After completing the quiz users will be directed to the correct answers along with a short description of where they can locate more information on this topic. The results will also be used to detect educational needs among the supplier community and on an individual basis.
MENLO PARK, Calif., Dec. 19, 2012—The Alliance for Health Reform and the Kaiser Family Foundation present a briefing to discuss the complexities of raising the age for Medicare eligibility. Speakers address questions on how this proposed change may affect beneficiaries, employers, and the workforce, as well as the cost and coverage implications for those approaching the current age of eligibility or enrolled in Medicare today.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2012—States across the country are finding new ways for senior citizens to age at home, a health care strategy that seniors prefer and one that reduces public spending on nursing homes and other care facilities. But the policies and regulations implemented by Medicare often run counter to this trend, actually making it more difficult for beneficiaries to receive power wheelchairs and remain independent in their homes.
TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 17, 2012—Many families are attempting to put their lives back together after Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast this past October. Seventeen-year-old, Staten Island Girl Scout Hayley Rodenfeld from Troop 5227 has made it her mission to help her fellow sisters and neighbors by reaching out to companies for donations and assistance during this time of need.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec. 13, 2012—California's 65 years and older population has increased to approximately 11.4 percent, and with that increase comes greater demand for personal care services. According to the December 2012 Consumer Reports on Health, the “demand for home-care aides—also known as personal-care or home-health aides—is skyrocketing.” The U.S.