Sanomedics International Holdings Inc. announced last week it was signing a letter of intent to acquire an unnamed durable medical equipment provider with a platform in sleep apnea treatment services.
HomeCare News
Highmark Inc. of Pittsburgh is selling its multi-state Medicare claims processing subsidiary, Highmark Services Inc., to avoid a conflict of interest.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced last week a revised repairs and replacement policy for the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program.
The revised policy continues to allow any Medicare-enrolled supplier to repair medically necessary, beneficiary-owned equipment when necessary to make the equipment serviceable. The policy now considers repair parts to include components that are needed to repair the base equipment, including batteries and tires.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., have sent a letter to Marilyn Tavenner, acting director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, asking that the Independence at Home program be given higher priority.
The American Association for Homecare is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to withdraw proposed changes to HME coverage under Medicare Advantage plans.
A British pilot study of 6,000 home health patients showed that telemonitoring technologies can reduce mortality rates by 45 percent and emergency room visits by 20 percent. Preliminary results of the two-year study, the Whole System Demonstration Programme, were released last week.
Otto Bock Healthcare announced last week the appointment of John Phillips to the position of senior market and training manager. He will be responsible for marketing, business development and education for Otto Bock’s custom seating.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced last week a final rule allowing consumers, insurers and employers to buy access to an extensive Medicare claims database. This will allow the creation of performance report cards that evaluate providers on quality.
Independa Inc. of San Diego last week announced plans for the Artemis platform of health, safety and activity sensors to complete its integrated telecare suite for the independent elderly and their professional or family caregivers. The platform had its debut at the 2011 mHealth Summit in National Harbor, Md. The company plans to launch Artemis early next year.
A federal judge has stopped California from implementing a 20 percent cut to the state's In-Home Support Services program. Judge Claudia A. Wilken of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order on Dec. 1 to stop the cuts until the court can hear a request for preliminary injunction. The state wants to cut $100 million for the program that provides in-home health services.
The Northeast Home Health Leadership Summit is scheduled for Jan. 17-19 in Boston. Now in its 10th year, the summit is attended by more than 200 home health agency executives from throughout New England and New York.
The 14th and final session of VGM’s Group’s “Ins & Outs of National Competitive Bidding Round 2 and How to Make Money in an Uncertain Environment” is scheduled for Jan. 30-31 in Atlanta. The day-and-a-half session is the last live seminar before the bid window opens. Cost for VGM members is $149; GAMES, ADMEA and AAHomecare Members, $199; and non-members, $249. Prices are per registration.
Humana Inc. announced last week that it has signed an agreement to acquire SeniorBridge, a New York-based provider of in-home care for seniors. Terms were not disclosed, and the giant insurer said the acquisition was part of a strategy to prevent hospitalizations and emergency room visits.
ArjoHuntleigh Inc., a global medical technology company focusing on the care of people with reduced mobility, last week launched a new, Illinois-based division for developing and distributing medical equipment to people in homecare settings.
ArjoHuntleigh Home Care will offer wide ranging HME products, including patient handling systems, hygiene systems, therapeutic surfaces, medical beds and treatments for lymphedema.
Invacare Corp. stock plunged last week after the FDA proposed a consent decree that would suspend some operations at the company’s headquarters and wheelchair plant in Ohio.
The stock (IVC) dropped 29 percent to close at $14.70 on Thursday after Invacare confirmed in a press release that it intends to enter into discussions with the FDA regarding terms of the decree. By mid-morning Friday, the stock had risen to $15.98.
The American Association for Homecare and a growing contingent of home medical equipment providers and consumer advocates are calling on Congress to stop a controversial Medicare “prepayment” demonstration project that jeopardizes access to power wheelchairs for beneficiaries with disabilities and threatens to cause significant job losses.
One element of Round 2 of competitive bidding that is creating consternation in the HME industry is the competition to provide mail-order supplies nationwide. Unlike all other product categories, diabetic supplies are being grouped into one national competitive bidding area.
The National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers (NAIMES) reports that many HME suppliers are confused and ill prepared for Round 2 of competitive bidding. Registration for that program opened last week in 91 metropolitan areas of the U.S. where about 11,500 HME providers do business.
Registration opened last week for Round 2 of competitive bidding. The program has now expanded into 91 additional metropolitan areas, after encompassing nine metropolitan areas in Round 1. This broad transformation of the HME industry poses serious challenges for providers. HomeCare Monday is conducting an online survey of providers who have patients within any of the areas included in Round 2 of Medicare’s competitive bidding program.