University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers reported last week that the incidence rate of wheelchair breakdowns has increased significantly. Moreover, users of wheelchairs paid for through Medicare and Medicaid had higher rates of breakdowns, a problem that could be related to recent changes in insurance reimbursement policies, researchers concluded.
HomeCare News
The Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee announced last week that it has scheduled a hearing Wednesday into Medicare’s Competitive Bidding Program to gauge its impact on patients, suppliers and program expenditures. The hearing could provide a format for seeking replacement of the controversial program.
A team sponsored by the SCOOTER Store of New Braunfels, Texas, raised $12,000 for National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Team Freedom participated in a 180-mile bicycle race, the BP MS 150, from Houston to Austin, Texas, April 21 and 22. This was the ninth consecutive year that SCOOTER Store employees, family members and friends have participated in the event.
The annual cost of health care for individuals with employer-sponsored insurance rose 3.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, and 0.8 percent compared to the third quarter of 2011, the Thomson Reuters Healthcare Spending Index for Private Insurance reported April 19.
Providers participating in Round 2 and/or the national mail-order competition of the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program must have all applicable state licenses on file with the National Supplier Clearinghouse next Tuesday. Bidding suppliers must ensure that copies of applicable state licenses are received by the NSC on or before that day.
National Government Services, the Jurisdiction B Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor, will no longer mail suppliers a redetermination acknowledgement letter, effective April 26. Suppliers who submit redetermination and reopening requests to National Government Services must use self-service tools to obtain the status of their requests.
Medscape’s Physician Compensation Survey reported last week that physician income declined in general so far in 2012, although the top-earning specialties remained stable. In 2012, radiologists and orthopedic surgeons topped the list at $315,000, followed by cardiologists at $314,000, anesthesiologists at $309,000 and urologists at $309,000. The lowest paying specialties in 2012's survey were pediatrics, family medicine and internal medicine.
Trustees reported last week that long-term actuarial deficits for Medicare worsened in 2012, and encouraged lawmakers to take steps to ensure continuation of the insurance program for the nation’s elderly.
Trustees projected that Medicare costs would grow substantially from about 3.7 percent of GDP in 2011 to 5.7 percent of GDP by 2035, and will increase gradually thereafter to about 6.7 percent of GDP by 2086.
A report last week on Medicare Advantage plans criticized the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) for improperly offsetting some cuts to the plans.
At issue is a provision in health care reform that was supposed to cut excessive Medicare Advantage payments by $68 billion by 2017, but the Government Accountability Office report noted that CMS has used a demonstration project to pay these plans $8.35 billion in bonuses to offset cuts.
Many manufacturers and providers are already making plans to participate in the fall Medtrade show in Atlanta, following completion of Medtrade Spring April 10-12, organizers reported last week.
A prepayment review of blood glucose strips and lancets by the Jurisdiction A Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC) has found a denial rate of 71 percent, the contractor reported last week.
The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) has urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider its decision to include certain home infusion therapies in the Competitive Bidding Program's re-compete for Round 1 contracts.
Federal fraud investigators testified last week said they are shifting focus from durable medical equipment to home health while implementing more methods and systems to prevent fraud.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a reminder about the license deadline for providers participating in Round 2 of the Competitive Bidding Program. All applicable state licenses must be RECEIVED by the National Supplier Clearinghouse on or before Tuesday, May 1.
The SCOOTER Store of New Braunfels, Texas, a power mobilityprovider, announced last week that it has been selected for Runzheimer International’s Total Employee Mobility Best Practices Award in the area of Business Vehicle Management. In 2011, the SCOOTER Store managed a fleet of more than 500 vehicles that traveled more than 22 million miles.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services has scheduled a National Provider Call for Wednesday from 2-3:30 p.m. ET on the status of Medicare FFS implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0. The call will address 5010/D.0 metrics, recommendations made by Medicare FFS, and possible outstanding fixes impacting the Part A and Part B Version 5010 transition. Registration is required. Go to the Medicare events website.
Ottobock announced last week that it has hired Julie Robinson as customer service representative for the mobility seating system manufacturing area of Ottobock that was formerly Tri Quality Inc. Based in Sacramento, Calif. Robinson has more than 20 years experience in customer service, most recently as a customer service specialist with Invacare Corp. At Ottobock, she is responsible for managing orders and customer satisfaction.
VGM, in Waterloo, Iowa, recently announce that Jeremy Stolz has been promoted to vice president-VGM Fulfillment. VGM Fulfillment ships CPAP supplies to HME providers’ patients. Stolz has been with VGM since 2003.
The Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services (MAMES) recently announced the winners of the 12th annual MAMES Provider of the Year Awards and Above and Beyond Awards. Provider of the year awards went to: Key Medical Supply, Shoreview, Minn., and Terry Flatt, Hammer Medical Supply, Des Moines, Iowa. Above and Beyond Awards went to: Al Neumann, Corner Medical, Minn.; Patrick Naeger, Healthcare Equipment & Supply, Co., Missouri; and Tom Powers of Strategic Media Ltd.
The Department of Health and Human Services last week announced plans to establish a new agency, the Administration for Community Living.
The agency is being developed under the president’s Community Living Initiative, and will combine the Administration on Aging, Office on Disability and Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Its mission will be to promote independent living for elderly and disabled people.