WASHIGTON, D.C. (May 13, 2020)—Late on Friday, May 8, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers document with welcome changes for home health agencies and hospices.
CMS
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2020)—Last week, the DME MACs announced that the certificate of medical necessity (CMN) for oxygen claims will not be required during the public health emergency. This is due to the CMS interim final rule published on April 6 (CMS-1744-IFC) that waived the clinical indication requirements for respiratory NCDs and LCDs. In the new announcement, the DME MACs clarified that the same exemption will apply to external infusion pumps.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 5, 2020)—The COVID-19 stimulus legislation enacted in late March provides significant reimbursement relief for suppliers servicing Medicare beneficiaries in non-rural areas that are not subject to the bidding program. The reimbursement rate for items that have been receiving 100% of the competitive bidding adjusted fee schedule are getting a blended rate of 75% adjusted and 25% unadjusted (2015 fee schedule) rates.
Telehealth options have expanded. Will they remain after the epidemic?
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 28, 2020)—On March 9, 2020, both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued for display on the ONC website final rules that advance the goals of interoperability of electronic health care records (EHR). On April 22, 2020 these rules went on display at the federal register (FR) and will be published in the FR on May 1, 2020.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 28, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is reevaluating the amounts that will be paid under its Accelerated Payment Program and suspending its Advance Payment Program to Part B suppliers effective immediately.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 8, 2020)—The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a spotlight on the importance that home medical equipment (HME) providers play in delivering care to patients in their homes. By allowing patients to remain in their homes, HME providers are freeing up hospital beds for COVID-19 patients and other patients with similarly serious health problems.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 31, 2019)—Monday evening, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) addressing a range of healthcare issues related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. AAHomecare performed an initial analysis of the IFR that indicates that priority policy recommendations from the HME industry have been included, except for the delay of competitive bidding.