AMARILLO, Texas — "Over the past several weeks, it feels like we have gone down the proverbial rabbit hole into Alice in Wonderland," said health care attorney Jeff Baird. "CMS' written guidance and verbal comments regarding supplier standards have defied logic in some instances and have been contradictory in other instances."
With the following questions and answers, Baird said, "I'll try to explain what is going on and try to give some clarity to HME providers."
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Essentially Women, the group purchasing organization for women's health care products, will hold its Focus on the Future 2011 in Glendale, Ariz., April 4-6. Founded in 1996, the group has grown to over 800 members with more than 1,000 locations.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — During the run-up to the 2010 Democratic National Convention, the North Carolina state association has invited party leaders to visit local HME companies to see first-hand "the devastating effects" of competitive bidding.
ELYRIA, Ohio — Net sales for 2010 increased 1.7 percent to $1.72 billion versus $1.69 billion in 2009, Invacare reported last week. Organic net sales for the year grew 1 percent, but that growth rate should increase to 2 to 4 percent in 2011 as the company shifts to a global operating model and continues to focus on efficiencies, the manufacturer said in its year-end earnings report.
EXETER, Pa. — Pride Mobility Products and Quantum Rehab have announced the new 2011 Professional Education Partnership, formerly known as the Pride U and Quantum University Seminar Tour. The tour was renamed to reflect the scope of the educational services offered to providers and clinicians, according to a company release.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cigna Government Services and Palmetto GBA, the DME MACs for Jurisdiction C, inappropriately allowed $125 million in payments for diabetes test strips and lancets in 2007, according to a report released Friday by the Office of Inspector General. About $96.6 million of that amount was paid to DME suppliers.
WASHINGTON — Yesterday the HHS Office of Inspector General launched its Most Wanted Fugitives List — the first-ever list of individuals sought by authorities on charges of health care fraud and abuse.
LAKE FOREST, Calif. — After Praxair stated in December intentions to sell its U.S. home care division, the companies announced Wednesday that Apria Healthcare will acquire those assets. The acquisition will expand Apria's respiratory services footprint and enhance its managed care service capabilities, according to a release. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter, were not disclosed.
SAN DIEGO — ResMed announced this morning that Kieran T. Gallahue has resigned his position as president and CEO, and as a director, effective Jan. 28. He leaves to become chairman and CEO of San Diego-based CareFusion, a medical technology company that focuses on the hospital sector.
ATLANTA — As the industry daily sinks deeper into competitive bidding, implemented Jan. 1 in nine metropolitan areas across the country, a brain trust of HME thought-leaders assembled by the American Association for Homecare is working to determine a strategy for dealing with the CMS project.
Two work groups have been established, according to Michael Reinemer, vice president, communications and policy, for AAHomecare.
WATERLOO, Iowa — According to VGM VP John Gallagher, a CMS official who pooh-poohed economist Ken Brown's study of the impact of competitive biddin
WASHINGTON — Following the introduction last week of House and Senate bills that would repeal the medical device tax instituted under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, lawmakers in the House introduced legislation to repeal a provision in the health reform law that created an Independent Payment Advisory Board for Medicare.
BALTIMORE — On Thursday (Feb. 3) from 2-3:30 p.m. ET, the DME MAC CERT Education Task Force will hold a national teleconference on oxygen policies.
To register for the call, go to www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/020311.
WASHINGTON — Held in conjunction with the Continuing Education and Legislative Advocacy Conference, advocates will hold a national call-in day Feb. 16 to ask members of Congress for support of a separate Medicare benefit for complex rehab.
LAS VEGAS — Register before Feb. 4 and attend the Medtrade Spring Conference and Expo for only $79! To be held April 12-14 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, the show features 80 educational sessions — including three new tracks on audits, competitive bidding and retail sales — and close to 300 product and service exhibitors.
SAN DIEGO — Last week ResMed reported record revenue for the company's second quarter and six months, ended Dec. 31. Revenue for the quarter was $306 million, an 11 percent increase over the same quarter in 2009, while revenue grew 13 percent to $588 million for the six months.
WASHINGTON — A new report shows that the government's health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered more than $4 billion in fiscal year 2010.
ATLANTA, Ga. — Brightree has formed a strategic alliance with the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers "to help providers stay informed about industry legislation and help promote advocacy efforts to better the DME community," according to a release from the HME software provider.
IRVINE, Calif. — Amerita has acquired San Antonio-based Advantage Infusion Services as part of its plan "to become the premier specialty infusion services provider in the United States," according to a release. With an existing location in the area, the acquisition offers the company an opportunity to consolidate operations, improve costs and become a dominant share provider in the San Antonio market. Advantage CEO Ed Lee will remain as branch manager of the combined businesses.
BALTIMORE — CMS has redesigned the Medicare Coverage Database to make it easier to find more information in one place about a specific national or local coverage determination. The new URL is www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/.
