An analysis of data from Round 1 of competitive bidding is so alarming that Congress must stop expansion of the program to learn exactly why HME claims have plummeted, and enact necessary changes to protect Medicare beneficiaries from rising risks of hospitalization and death, HME industry leaders said last week.
HomeCare News
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service has scheduled a National Provider Call for Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 2-3:30 p.m. ET, regarding the Medicare FFS implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 transaction standards.
Telcare Inc. of Bethesda, Md., has released its cellular-enabled blood glucose monitor for shipment at the end of January. The meter uses wireless technology to transmit readings to a private online database, which can be accessed by users, doctors or caregivers. It charts results to show trends and can be accessed with an iPhone app. There has been much media “buzz” about the product.
National Government Services, the Jurisdiction B Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC), has scheduled an Ask-the-Contractor Teleconference, with an open question-and-answer session on Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 1-2 p.m. ET. Jurisdiction B suppliers of DMEPOS can register online.
The medical equipment company Covidien announced last week that it has launched a new website providing educational support to healthcare providers and home health caregivers. The site features educational information on treating the most common chronic care conditions in acute, non-acute or home care settings.
AdvaCare Home Services, which has four locations in Pennsylvania, has been named a quality respiratory care provider under a program offered by the American Association for Respiratory Care. The program is aimed at ensuring residents cared for by home care organizations have access to respiratory care services provided by qualified respiratory therapists.
Convaid is introducing a child restraint system for children with special needs—the Carrot 3. Inspired by racecar seat design principles, the Carrot 3 is built to promote good positioning and safety. It accommodates children between ages 3 to 15 weighing 30 to 108 pounds.
Drive Medical recently announced that it has acquired Mountway Holdings Limited, a leading British manufacturer and distributor of bathlifts and independent living aids. Mountway holds a strong a position supplying the United Kingdom government sector. Mountway produces the Neptune rigid bathlift and the Aquila and Splash bathlifts. In addition, it produces the Serena pillow lift and the Solo patient toilet lift.
A new portable scale by Detecto, a division of Cardinal Scale Manufacturing Co., is being marketed for mobile bariatric weighing. The model DR660 portable scale is 21.5 inches wide and only 2 inches high. It requires only a minimal step and features a non-skid, rubber mat.
ATG Rehab, a complex rehabilitation equipment provider of wheelchairs and mobility equipment, announced last week that it has acquired the complex rehabilitation technology business segment of Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Medical Equipment (RMME). RMME has been a provider of complex rehabilitation technology, prosthetics, orthotics, wound care, bathroom safety and electrotherapy for more than 19 years.
Craftmatic Industries of Miami announced last week that is was launching a market initiative to sell its name-brand adjustable beds through HME providers. The company said the initiative will give providers a well-known brand-name bed at wholesale prices to attract cash sales, and give Craftmatic a market for substantial growth as baby boomers shop for products that ease the aging process. The Craftmatic department handling the program can be reached at 1-877-424-2818.
A recent study in the journal Stroke found that stroke treatment using intravenous thrombolysis costs U.S. hospitals much more than Medicare pays. Researchers found that it costs, on average, $14,102 for a hospital to provide treatment to a patient with a good medical outcome, and Medicare pays $10,098. Authorities said this kind of cost discrepancy could make hospitals reluctant to open stroke treatment centers and offer treatments that lose money.
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s annual report, “Facts and Figures: Hospice Care in America,” released last week shows the number of patients served by hospice rose slightly from 1.56 million in 2009 to 1.58 million in 2010. However, the median length of service in 2010 was 19.7 days, a decrease from 21.1 days in 2009. And, the average length of service dropped to 67.4 days in 2010 from 69 days in 2009.
Bid Prep Inc., a consulting company for providers participating in the Competitive Bidding Program, sent a notice last week that credit reports for providers submitting Round 2 bids must be prepared by Jan. 30.
That deadline has not been highly publicized, and awkward wording in CMS literature further obscures it. CME literature states that the credit report must be dated “within 90 days prior” to the opening of the bid window.
Licensing problems associated with Round 2 of the Competitive Bidding Program have made their way on to the CMS radar screen, according to a report last week from the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers (NAIMES).
The American Association for Homecare reported last week that an analysis of data from Round 1 of the Competitive Bidding Program showed a sharp decline in claims for HME products in bidding areas. Data also showed a significant risk of death and hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries not getting necessary home medical equipment.
The Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of America (AMEPA) has done some more digging on the issue of when credit reports should be dated for Round 2 of competitive bidding, and prompted a clarification from the CBIC.
Last week, a CBIC spokesperson told consultant Chris Rice that the deadline was Jan. 30. This week, a CBIC ombudsman told AMEPA that there was no such deadline.
A 165-page, groundbreaking study of data from Round 1 of competitive bidding is now available. Peter Cramton, a University of Maryland economist who for years has served as an unofficial, academic watchdog examining the Competitive Bidding Program, used the Freedom of Information Act to acquire data from Round 1 of competitive bidding, and then analyzed the information.
A new educational webcast for the Round 2 and national mail-order competitions of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program is now available on the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) website. This webcast, Program Rules, provides resources to help with bidding, and explains rules detailed in the Request for Bids (RFB) Instructions.
Golden Technologies of Old Forge, Pa., last week launched its newest power chair in the Golden line, the Alanté Sport. The chair has a two-tone shroud design, easy access to batteries and a full-size captain’s seat.