The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced last week an extension of the licensure deadline for Round 2 of competitive bidding.
The original deadline required providers to have all required state licenses on file with the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) and indicated in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) before submitting a bid.
Registration for Round 2 of the Competitive Bidding Program closes on Thursday, Feb. 9. Bidding is already underway, with the 60-day bid window opening on Monday, Jan. 30.
HME providers are submitting bids online using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS).
The American Association for Homecare has told members that it will eliminate the registration fee for the Feb. 15-16 Washington Legislative Conference. AAHomecare is also subsidizing registration for non-members by charging only $100.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Friday two key changes to the prior authorization demonstration for power mobility devices (PMD), and rescheduled the project to begin on or after June 1.
The key modifications were:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released statistics last week to support its assertion that better control of fraud and waste is causing HME claims to fall dramatically in areas where Round 1 of competitive bidding has been enacted. But an analysis of the data by HomeCare indicates that the numbers are inconsistent with the CMS position.
BY DAVE PARKS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services acknowledges that HME claims have declined in Round 1 biddings areas, as reported in a recent study by economist Peter Cramton. But CMS says the declines are being driven by better controls for fraud and waste, and insists there is no evidence that beneficiaries are losing services.
HASCO Medical Inc. of Mobile, Ala., a managed health care provider that serves patients in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, has launched its new website. The company's products and services include the sale of durable medical equipment, home respiratory equipment and the sale or rental of wheelchair accessible vans for which it provides custom conversion services.
GF Health Products Inc. of Atlanta (Graham-Field) last week introduced the Lumex Set n’ Go Height Adjustable Rollator. The mobility device offers multiple frame height adjustments from hemi 18 inch to standard 22 inch and knob adjustable handle height from 29 inches to 38 inches.
The January edition of Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter lists three areas of concern to providers of durable medical equipment. Areas of concern, as found in RAC audits, are:
National Government Services, the Jurisdiction B durable medical equipment Medicare administrative contractor (DME MAC), has scheduled a webinar for Medicare suppliers who bill oxygen and oxygen equipment at 10 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, Feb. 15. Topics of discussion include:
A company in California has launched a new product, a high-end fashion bag called the StashAll, which attaches to walkers of elderly or disabled people. It can be folded up with the walker, and comes in an array of attractive fabrics and with pockets. Optional, coordinating accessories are available.
Brazil’s REABILITACAO 2012—the 10th International Fair of Products, Equipment, Service and Technology for Rehabilitation, Prevention and Inclusion—is set for Aug. 15-17 in Sao Paulo. The South American nation has 30 million people affected by disability or reduced mobility and 20 million elderly who require care.
MSC Care Management, a leading provider of medical products and services workers' compensation claimants nationwide, announced last week that it has acquired Total Medical Solutions, a national company specializing in large-loss claims.
Pennsylvania-based Dynamic Healthcare Services Inc. announced last week that it has been acquired by a subsidiary of GMH Ventures LLC. The acquisition was made in partnership with Dynamic’s key management team, including its founder and president, Terry Luft. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
D. Medical Industries Ltd. of Israel, a medical device company engaged through its subsidiaries in the research, development, manufacture and sale of products for diabetes treatment and drug delivery, announced last week that its subsidiary, Spring Health Solutions Inc., has signed a nonexclusive agreement with Better Living Now Inc. for distribution of its Spring Universal Infusion Sets in the United States.
A new webcast for Round 2 of the Competitive Bidding Program is available on the CBIC website. The webcast is entitled “How a Bid Is Evaluated,” and covers the steps in the bid evaluation process, from receipt of electronic bid data and hardcopy documents through awarding of contracts. The webcast also provides resources to assist with bidding.
Minnesota-based Ottobock announced last week the hiring of three territory sales representatives for its Mobility Solutions Business Unit.
Idaho’s $35 million in Medicaid cuts have eliminated thousands of jobs, hurt disabled recipients and pushed mentally ill people into jails, says a panel that recently reported on the issue. The panel concluded that the cuts cost the state 4,000 jobs, and eliminated mental health services that were critical in keeping mentally ill people out of trouble with law enforcement.
The Gallup and Healthways polling organization reported last week that more American adults lacked health insurance coverage last year than in any year since tracking started in 2008. The uninsured rate climbed to 17.1 percent for 2011. It had been increasing since 2008 when it stood at 14.8 percent. In 2010, it was 16.4 percent. Hispanic Americans were the most likely demographic group to be uninsured with more than 40 percent going without coverage in 2011.
The Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of America (AMEPA) has done some more digging into the issue of when credit reports should be dated for Round 2 of competitive bidding, and prompted a CBIC clarification.
Two weeks ago, a CBIC spokesperson told consultant Chris Rice that the deadline was Jan. 30. Last week, a CBIC ombudsman told AMEPA that there was no such deadline.
