ELYRIA, Ohio — Cyclist Mark Junge plans to leave today from Charleston, S.C., on his sixth annual ride to raise awareness of COPD.
HomeCare News
LUBBOCK, Texas — The California Association of Medical Product Suppliers (CAMPS) and The MED Group/MED University have partnered to bring MED University education to CAMPS members. MED University (www.meduniversity.net) is comprised of more than 130 courses, with many approved for IACET CEUs or AARC CRCEs that fulfill industry, association and professional ongoing educational requirements.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Ancor Capital Partners has acquired Carex Health Brands, which markets pain therapy and medication compliance aids under the Carex, Apex, Bed Buddy and Thera-Med brands.
"Carex has the unique opportunity to benefit from the shift in the retail environment to larger big-box retailers and the demographic trends of the baby boomer generation," Randall Keene, Ancor managing partner, said in a release.
BALTIMORE—In another move to establish barriers to fraud and abuse within the Medicare system, CMS announced this week that beginning Oct. 11, home medical equipment providers would have access to PECOS, the online Medicare enrollment system.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Complex rehab technology does not yet belong to its own distinct category, but rehab professionals from throughout the sector are continuing their efforts to make that a reality. Building a case through deliberate steps, NCART Executive Director Don Clayback, who is coordinating the efforts of the Separate Benefit Category Steering Committee, hopes Congress will see fit to carve out a separate Medicare benefit for CRT outside of the broad category of DME.
BALTIMORE — Diabetic equipment providers will need to beef up their documentation in order to get paid by Medicare if a draft Local Coverage Determination on diabetic supplies is finalized, stakeholders said last week.
On Aug. 27, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a final rule on Medicare enrollment standards for DMEPOS providers. The new rule expands on existing standards that providers must meet to establish and maintain billing privileges in the Medicare program — and those standards took effect Sept. 27.
According to health care attorney Jeff Baird of Brown & Fortunato, Amarillo, Texas, a lead generation company (LGC) compiles leads in different ways. "It may manage a number of websites. Ms. Smith, a prospective customer, will click onto a website and input her name, address and phone number," says Baird. "The LGC may advertise in the newspaper, over the radio, and over television. In response, Ms.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Rotech Healthcare said Thursday it is selling $230 million worth of senior secured notes that are due in 2015.
The company estimates net proceeds from the offering at $223.5 million, which it plans to use, together with cash on hand, to repay a $226 million term loan. The offering is expected to close Oct. 6, according to a release.
WASHINGTON — AAHomecare reported last week that two anti-fraud bills are moving through Congress.
ROCKY MOUNT, Conn. — Complex rehab provider ATG Rehab has opened offices in four new locations in three states.
CHESTNUT RIDGE, N.Y. — Software provider MedFORCE Technologies announced Sept. 28 it has launched an online store (www.medforcetech.com/store) where customers can buy apps and add-ons to help with workflow and business efficiency. The store features auto-filing templates, forms, additional user licenses and consulting services in various categories.
INDIANAPOLIS — NGS, the Jurisdiction B DME MAC, has released the results of a widespread prepayment medical review for Group 2 pressure reducing support surfaces (E0277).
Out of 101 claims reviewed from 61 suppliers, 11 were allowed as billed. Thirty-four claims were denied for no documentation received, nine for no/invalid detailed written orders and the remaining 47 for one or more other reasons.
BALTIMORE — On Friday, CMS announced the award of $9 million in grants to 51 Senior Medicare Patrol programs in 47 states and the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The SMP programs in Florida, California, New York and Texas got the biggest grants at $430,000 each because they have been identified as high-fraud areas, according to a release.
WASHINGTON — In what one industry advocate is calling a "game changer," the chair of a key congressional subcommittee is asking CMS about a letter signed by more than 160 renowned economists who believe Medicare's competitive bidding program will fail.
LUBBOCK, Texas — With the Jan. 1 go-live date fast approaching and an industry waiting on CMS' revelation of contract winners for Round 1 of competitive bidding, "it's a scary time," said The MED Group's Wayne Grau, vice president of supplier relations and government affairs.
"We're still fighting this thing," Grau said. "We've got to get it killed."
BUFFALO, N.Y. — After evaluating industry feedback, the steering committee working toward a separate Medicare benefit for complex rehab will review its new proposal paper on the initiative in a pair of October webinars.
Two calls on the proposal (both the same presentation) have been scheduled. The webinars are free, but registration is required:
ATLANTA — CMS and Congress, are you listening? The voices against DMEPOS competitive bidding are growing louder as independent experts continue to raise serious concerns about the Medicare bidding program, with one economist calling it "truly horrible."
GREENVILLE, S.C. — On Aug. 27, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a final rule on Medicare enrollment standards for DMEPOS providers. The new rule, based on a proposed rule issued in 2008, expands on existing standards that providers must meet to establish and maintain billing privileges in the Medicare program — and those new standards become effective Sept. 27 (today).
ALBANY, Ga. — Provider Tyler Riddle of MRS Homecare in Albany, Ga., and several associates have been working to develop a resource to help HME providers and their patients fight Medicare's competitive bidding program. Along with an explanation of the bidding program, the new website includes action points for consumers and a "warning letter" providers can send to their customers about the bidding program.