WASHINGTON, D.C. (August, 26, 2015)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) today released an analysis of the Office of Medicare Hearing and Appeals (OMHA) appeals backlog, using data available on the OMHA website. The analysis has uncovered that in spite of reports from OMHA indicating improvement, in the first half of 2015, the wait time has increased by nearly 25 percent, with June posting an average processing time of 714.9 days.
Alan Dupuis
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 9, 2015)—The newest version of the 21st Century Cures bill now includes language to extend the CMS power wheelchair prior authorization demonstration. With the current demonstration ending this August, the new provisions would extend the demo through at least Aug. 31, 2018, and add more states, power mobility devices and accessories.
Webinar July 14, 2015
Accountable Care Organizations: What They Mean to DME Suppliers
Presented by: Jeff Baird, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Webinar, July 14, 2015, 2:30-4 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON, DC (June 8, 2015)—On May 29, AAHomecare submitted comments on the Proposed Rule by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) titled, 2015 Edition Health Information Technology (Health IT) Certification Criteria, 2015 Edition Base Electronic Health Record (HER) Definition and ONC Health IT Certification Program Modifications.
Washington, DC (May 28, 2015)—On May 22, the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the 21st Century Cures legislation, the goal of which is to foster health care innovation. The bipartisan support reflected in the 51-0 vote in favor of the bill came after lawmakers hashed out an agreement on ways to offset its estimated $13 billion cost. While the Cures bill has strong support in the House, it does not appear to have the support needed to pass in the Senate.
WASHINGTON (Feb. 5, 2015)—In early January, the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced that they would be performing a study on Medicare beneficiary access to DME, as requested by a bipartisan coalition of House members in July. Soon thereafter, AAHomecare received a request from the OIG to discuss access issues for patients.
WASHINGTON (Jan. 20, 2015)—As the calendar rolls into 2015, the state of the industry is heavily influenced by two public policies implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—the bidding program for durable medical equipment (DME) and the auditing process for providers and hospitals.
WASHINGTON (Jan. 13, 2015)—Bipartisan legislation, introduced today by Reps. Tiberi, R-Ohio, and Larson, D-Conn., and Sens.
WASHINGTON (Nov. 14, 2014)—In honor of Home Care Month in November, People for Quality Care (PFQC) and Save My Medical Supplies (SMMS) have come together to spread the word about the positive impact of HME.
From helping patients live independently in their homes to being leaders in their communities, there are many examples of how HME providers go out of their way to help others. PFQC and SMMS have created a centralized home for these positive stories.
CARROLL, Iowa (Nov. 17, 2014)—The HME industry saw one of its own swept into office earlier this month when Republican Brian Best won a seat in Iowa House District 12, defeating two-term Democrat incumbent Dan Muhlbauer. The 54-year-old Best has owned BestMED Respiratory, a one-location fixture in Carroll, Iowa, for the last 13 years.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 5, 2014)—Upon initial review, the final rule just released by CMS, 1614-F, “Medicare Program: End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, Quality Incentive Program, and Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies,” has four main points that you need to know about right now.
ATLANTA (Oct. 20, 2014)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) unveiled the AAHomecare App at the 2014 Medtrade show in Atlanta. The app is the latest in a stream of initiatives designed to modernize AAHomecare’s communications platforms.
The AAHomecare App will act as a nerve-center for all HME news.
WASHINGTON (Oct. 8, 2014)—AAHomecare met with Laurence Wilson and other key staff of CMS to discuss the ESRD proposed rule and its impact on the home care sector. Specifically, AAHomecare discussed concerns with CMS’s proposals to apply competitive bidding rates to non-competitive bidding areas and bundling payments on a limited basis in the next round of bidding.
These concerns were detailed in the Association’s comments, which were submitted on Sept. 2.
Washington, D.C.—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) announced that Cara Bachenheimer, senior vice president of government relations at Invacare Corporation and Joel Mills, chief executive officer of Advanced Homecare will receive the 2014 AAHomecare Homecare Champion Awards.
The Homecare Champion Award recognizes AAHomecare members who have made exceptional contributions to the home care community throughout their careers.
WASHINGTON (Sept. 3, 2014)—On Sept.
WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is changing the way it deals with medical equipment repairs. In response to complaints from patients across the nation, CMS has admitted that patients are having trouble getting equipment repaired and has released new guidance on supplier documentation for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) repair claims.
WASHINGTON (August 13, 2014)—AAHomecare is pleased to announce that Mina Uehara has joined the team this week as regulatory affairs associate.
Uehara recently received her Master of Public Policy degree from American University, where her graduate research work focused on Medicaid.
WASHINGTON (August 7, 2014)—The American Association of Homecare (AAHomecare) and Brightree, announced today that Dave Cormack, Brightree president and CEO, has been elected to the AAHomecare Board of Directors.
Cormack has led Brightree since 2005. Under his direction the company has grown into the leading provider of clinical, billing and business management software solutions for the post-acute care industry.
WASHINGTON (July 24, 2014)—The American Association for Homecare Board of Directors has extended the ongoing consumer communications campaign, Save My Medical Supplies (SMMS), through the end of this year.
WASHINGTON—AAHomecare has developed the Focus on Compliance Workbook to help HME providers develop their company’s compliance program.
WASHINGTON—This year has been huge for the HME industry on Capitol Hill. With the introduction of H.R. 4920 and the AIR Act, we're fighting hard to get our issues to the forefront of our representatives’ minds. The 2015 Washington Legislative Conference, taking place May 19-20, 2015, will be more important than ever.
We'll work with you to schedule the right appointments.
WASHINGTON (July 23, 2014)—AAHomecare is leading the charge to build support for the new audit reform legislation by publicly asking all HME state associations for their formal endorsement of H.R. 5083, the Medicare DMEPOS Audit Reform and Improvement (AIR) Act.