WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 19, 2012—In recent weeks, many state delegations of home-care providers have visited or called lawmakers in Washington to urge them to support H.R. 6490, the bill that would replace with existing bidding system with the Market Pricing Program. Results of that hard work are visible this week: Three more Democrats and four more Republicans have signed on to the bill, bringing the total to 87. New cosponsors include:
HomeCare News
ATLANTA, Dec. 19, 2012—Medtrade is now accepting abstracts for Medtrade 2013, searching for dynamic speakers, presentations and topics for the event being held in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 7-10, 2013 (the expo is Oct. 8-10) at the Orange County Convention Center. Medtrade is especially looking for speakers with extensive knowledge in the HME industry. Session topics to be considered should fall within one of the following tracks:
MUNDELEIN, Ill., Dec. 18, 2012—Health Inventures, a surgical and physician services company based in Westminster, Colo., selected Medline Industries, Inc., as its primary vendor distribution partner for medical and surgical supplies. The five-year agreement for distribution services is expected to save Health Inventures more than $2 million per year in medical supply costs by driving distribution efficiencies over the term of the agreement.
WEST BEND, Wis., Dec. 12, 2012—GrandCare Systems has received the prestigious 2012 Best Practices Award from Frost & Sullivan, North American Elderly Health and Wellness Customer Value Enhancement Award. This award recognizes GrandCare Systems for offering an extensive, cutting-edge, elderly health and wellness solution. “GrandCare has recognized the opportunity presented by the convergence of health care and wellness.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Dec. 13, 2012—National Government Services, the Jurisdiction B Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC) will conduct an External Breast Prostheses webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. The webinar will take place at 10 a.m. ET and is geared toward suppliers who bill Medicare for external breast prostheses and mastectomy bras.
BALTIMORE, Md., Dec. 13, 2012—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will share the latest information on the data elements and PIM changes for the power mobility device electronic clinical template Dec. 19 from 4-5 p.m. ET. To take part:
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13, 2012—When Howard, a 90-year-old living in Walnut Creek, Calif., needs his blood pressure or oxygen level checked, the data are transmitted directly from monitors on his arm and finger and immediately made available to his geriatric care manager. His body weight is also sent from a Bluetooth-enabled scale. Because Howard has congestive heart failure and lung disease, the ability to monitor this data is crucial.
AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 14, 2012—Those suffering from aching neck pain that won’t go away and chronic or intermittent pain around the neck and shoulders could benefit from the Theratrac. Designed to allow the natural curve of the neck to correct through the forces of traction, the Theratrac gently stretches and allows the vertebral discs to realign, freeing the nerve root tissue from straining disc pressure.
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 10, 2012—Independa has been awarded CONNECT's Most Innovative New Product (MIP) Award in the Software category. Independa's software augments traditional caregiving with cloud-based telecare solutions, including a Caregiver Web Application; social engagement tools; and health, environmental and activity monitoring delivered through the telephone, a tablet application, or an application embedded within televisions.
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 13, 2012—Weighing 4.83 lbs. and offering up to 12 hours of internal battery life at 1 LPMeq, the LifeChoice Activox Porable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) from Inova Labs empowers patients with true freedom and mobility.
HALIFAX, VA., DEC. 14, 2012—According to the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers (NAIMES), using a complex formula in the Medicare statute established by Congress, DME items receive an inflation adjustment to fees annually. The Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U) plus or minus a productivity value gives suppliers an annual change in the fees, except for bid items.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 13, 2012—AAHomecare recently asked the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for relief from Recovery Audit Contractors for recoupments on submitted claims when the anniversary billing date overlaps with a Medicare Part A stay (i.e., skilled nursing facility or hospital stay).
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 5, 2012—The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued greatly improved final regulations for the application of a medical device excise tax, compared to the proposed rule issued earlier this year. While AAHomecare continues to examine the impact of the guidance, it appears that the vast majority of home medical equipment devices will not be subject to the tax.
RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 5, 2012—The Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC), has appointed José Domingos as its new chief executive officer effective December 1, 2012. He will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organization, establishing and maintaining strategic relationships and partnerships, and developing and implementing plans to meet ACHC’s growth objectives.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 5, 2012—As waves of audits continue to slam the home care sector, the AAHomecare Regulatory Council recently wrapped up a two-day work session at its headquarters in Washington. The top focus has been audit issues including lowering error rates, auditor oversight, and face-to-face exam educational materials.
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Dec. 5, 2012—Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital, a hospital dedicated to the treatment of patients with stroke, brain injury and other debilitating conditions in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was announced as the 20,000th organization to have currently achieved accreditation or certification from The Joint Commission.
MIAMI, Dec. 5, 2012—In early 2011 John Acosta’s family physician made the difficult decision to initiate home hospice care for his grandfather following a 12-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. While helping his grandmother care for her husband of 60 years he became painfully aware of the lack of solutions available on the market to meet the particular needs of both the caregiver and the patient.
ROCKY HILL, Conn., Dec. 5, 2012—ATG Rehab, a leading provider of seating and mobility equipment, is expanding its services in Oklahoma.
PLAINVIEW, N.Y., Dec. 5, 2012—Fastrack Healthcare Systems, Inc. announces the availability of Express Billing, a new automation feature that provides the industry’s fastest method to generate bills to Medicare, Medicaid, invoice carriers, private pay facilities and wholesale accounts. Traditionally HME software systems required running a variety of processes to generate the claim.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Dec. 6, 2012—National Government Services, the Jurisdiction B Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC) would like to remind suppliers that the CMS Internet-Only Manuals (IOMs) can be found in the CMS Online Manual System located on the CMS Web site.