BALTIMORE — CMS has announced that based on real-time claims analysis for the first quarter of 2011, there have been "no changes in beneficiary health outcomes" since the implementation of competitive bidding Jan. 1.
The agency has been monitoring the health status of three distinct groups of beneficiaries in the Round 1 competitive bidding areas:
ATLANTA — If you think H.R. 1041, the bill that would repeal competitive bidding, is the only HME game on Capitol Hill, here is some news: There is plenty of other legislation that could potentially affect your home medical equipment business. And there's wanna-be legislation as well.
WASHINGTON — More than 270 health care and business organizations sent a letter to Congress Friday urging elimination of the Independent Payment Advisory Board.
Created under the Affordable Care Act, the 15-member panel, to be appointed by the president, would have the power to cut Medicare payments unless Congress intervenes.
HALIFAX, Va. — Initial responses to a NAIMES survey on how the HME industry should deal with competitive bidding make it pretty clear that stakeholders want to keep battling to stop the program, but they're not so united on what should take its place.
BALTIMORE — At an April 5 meeting of the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee, CMS officials gave what industry attendees described as a rosy picture of competitive bidding since its January implementation in nine MSAs. According to CMS' Michael Keane, that's still the case.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Peter Cramton continued his crusade against CMS' competitive bidding design last week, releasing a comprehensive study that bolsters auction experts' opinion that the program is dangerously flawed.
WASHINGTON — The Office of Inspector General once again cautioned providers to beware of the anti-kickback statute in an eight-page advisory opinion addressing arrangements between DME companies and independent diagnostic testing facilities.
Released June 21, the opinion (AO 11-08) said both an existing arrangement and a proposed arrangement involving contracts between a DME company that provides CPAP devices and a sleep lab could be suspect.
WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the ITEM Coalition, the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Health Task Force and the Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation sponsored a congressional briefing on "The Importance of Rehabilitation in America's Healthcare System" to point up the value of rehab services and devices for people who sustain injuries, or have disabilities or chronic conditions. The briefing was hosted by Reps.
CHICAGO — "Take a minute and think about where you will be six months from now," says a new article on the Version 5010 transaction standards. Instead of getting ready for the holidays you could be scrambling to deal with the Jan. 1, 2012, implementation of Version 5010, according to Will You Be Ready?
CINCINNATI — In its continuing expansion, CarePoint Partners has acquired the infusion therapy segment of ArTex Medical, which serves Dallas and Texarkana, Texas, as well as Shreveport, La.
CarePoint operates infusion and specialty pharmacies in 25 sites in nine states: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia.
SAN DIEGO — Michael P. Mogul became DJO Global's new CEO, effective June 13. Mogul succeeds former President and CEO Les Cross, who becomes chairman.
Mogul brings with him 22 years of sales and marketing experience in orthopedics, having served most recently as Stryker Corp.'s group president for its $3.5 billion worldwide orthopedics business.
DJO's brands include Aircast, Chattanooga, CMF, Compex, DonJoy, Dr. Comfort, Empi, ProCare and DJO Surgical.
ORLANDO, Fla. — After raising $6.5 million in an offering earlier this year and another $290 million in a private offering, Rotech Healthcare has begun an exchange offer for up to $283.5 million aggregate principal of its senior second lien notes for an equal amount of privately held notes. The offer closes July 12 unless it is extended, according to a press release.
WASHINGTON — Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is the new co-chair of the Congressional COPD Caucus, which focuses on patients affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
It is estimated approximately 24 million Americans, about half of them undiagnosed, are living with COPD. The caucus was created in 2004 by Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as a bipartisan, bicameral way to raise awareness of the disease.
ARLINGTON, Va. — AAHomecare has hired HME veteran Dan Smith as its new director of membership sales and marketing.
Smith was formerly sales executive for OSI/Overland Solutions Inc., an outsource provider to the insurance market for audits, surveys, loss control and risk management.
Previously, Smith served as vice president of membership at The MED Group for 12 years, and has also held positions with MK Battery, Advacare Medical and Everest & Jennings.
PHILADELPHIA — Responding to criticism from HME and hospital representatives about over-reaching audits, a high-ranking CMS official participating in a health care fraud summit June 17 said the agency would conduct an "audit audit."
According to a report from the American Association for Homecare, CMS' Peter Budetti, deputy administrator of the Center for Program Integrity, said the agency would investigate the merit of complaints about the growing number of audits.
WASHINGTON — Reintroduced June 15, the Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2011 would close a gap that currently exists in coverage where the medications used in infusions to treat serious diseases are covered, but not the medical services or equipment needed to deliver the home therapy.
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — The Scooter Store announced today that it now has more than 200 insurance company contracts for power mobility equipment covering more than 170 million members across the country.
The company has signed eight new agreements so far in 2011, including a contract with Anthem companies in Maine and New Hampshire, according to a release. Additional contracts are under negotiation, the release said.
TULSA, Okla. — While many HME owners are dipping their toes into the retail waters as an add-on to their current Medicare-Medicaid business, it's not the only way to go. Gerald Choate, owner of Sooner Mobility & Rental in Tulsa, Okla., dove in headfirst.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Held last month at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., the Warrior Games hosted 198 wounded, ill and injured men and women from all branches of the Armed Forces. Beginning at 5 p.m. ET tonight, Versus will air a documentary-style special on the Games featuring an inside look at several competing athletes.
