A multifaceted approach to M&A activity
CMS
WASHINGTON, (April 18, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has selected 12 additional items of Durable Medical Equipment (DME) to be subject to required prior authorization (CMS 6080-N2).
Reimbursements withheld due to physician errors harm oxygen providers
New CMS codes lead to better payout for providers
Via NAHC, WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 3, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted long-awaited information about the next steps for its Review Choice Demonstration, which will begin in Illinois on June 1, 2019.
WATERLOO, Iowa (March 22, 2019)—In response to the aggressive timeline for providers to meet CMS’s newest requirements to bid in Round 2021, VGM Insurance Services, in affiliation with its treasury-listed partner, Lexon Insurance Company, has developed a new Competitive Bid Bond product available to businesses intending to participate in the next round of bidding.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 14, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its Drug Spending Dashboards with data for 2017. This Administration’s version of the drug dashboards, first released in May of 2018, adds information on the manufacturers that are responsible for price increases and includes pricing and spending data for thousands more drugs across Medicare Parts B and D and Medicaid.
How to know if outsourcing is a fit for your agency
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 26, 2019)—In the Feb. 22, issue of the NAHC Report, the National Association of Home Care & Hospice broke down a recent Health Affairs study. Health care spending in the United States is expected to rise to nearly $6 trillion by 2027, but home health spending will rise faster than all other care categories, according to a new projection from the Office of the Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 22, 2019)—Over the past two and a half years, AAHomecare’s payer relations efforts have helped stop or limit proposed Medicaid reimbursement cuts in dozens of states, limited the spread of sole-source and narrow-network contract arrangements, and successfully lobbied TRICARE to provide retroactive relief for HME reimbursements based on the 2016 CURES bill.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 19, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched “CMS: Beyond the Policy,” a new podcast highlighting updates and changes to policies and programs in an easily accessible and conversational format. The podcast was created as a new method to explain the agency’s policies and programs.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (February 15, 2019)—The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) over a misguided policy determination that could significantly reduce patients’ access to home infusion therapy services.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (February 14, 2019)—On February 12th, the Home Medical Equipment & Services Association of New England (HOMES) was invited by Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Region 1 director John McGough to the CMS and HHS Region 1 office to listen and understand issues related to Medicare policies and home medical equipment.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 11, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released CMS-9115-P, the Interoperability and Patient Access Proposed Rule. The new rule outlines proposed policy changes to the MyHealthEData initiative to improve patient access to and advance electronic data exchange and care coordination throughout the health care system. CMS is also releasing two requests for information (RFIs) for feedback from providers in post-acute care settings.
February 5, 2019—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the expiration of the Medicare Provider Enrollment Moratoria on Jan. 30, 2019. The announcement includes states where a moratorium had been issued for new home health agencies (HHAs).
February 5, 2019—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the expiration of the Medicare Provider Enrollment Moratoria on Jan. 30, 2019. The announcement includes states where a moratorium had been issued for new home health agencies (HHAs).
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 29, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) for the home health conditions of participation (CoP), effective as of January 13, 2018. Even though the final version of the interpretive guidelines for these CoPs was finalized at the end of August 2018, there were still outstanding questions. Many have been answered in the FAQs.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 29, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) for the home health conditions of participation (CoP), effective as of January 13, 2018. Even though the final version of the interpretive guidelines for these CoPs was finalized at the end of August 2018, there were still outstanding questions. Many have been answered in the FAQs.
Suncoast chief medical director working to curb narcotic use among seniors
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 10, 2019)—Home health agencies face a potentially serious claim denial issue related to new Plan of Care requirements, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice reported in its Jan. 9 bulletin.