CMS
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 31, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be hosting two Special Open Door Forums (ODF) on June 4 and June 12, 2019.
Prior Authorization
On June 4, CMS will host an ODF from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm EDT on the implementation of prior authorization (PA) for pressure reducing support surfaces. This ODF is a follow-up from an announcement published in the Federal Register on April 22.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 29, 2019)—As the home medical equipment industry prepares for the next round of the competitive bidding program, patient advocacy groups are rallying around the latest category added to the program—non-invasive ventilation (NIV).
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 23, 2019)—U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana plans to lead a Senate sign-on letter asking CMS and HHS to reverse course on the decision to add non-invasive vents (NIVs) to Round 2021 of the competitive bidding program, AAHomecare reports.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 21, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has added a fourth webcast to its education program by splitting the previously announced “Registering and Submitting a Bid” session into two parts. The following webcasts are part of the series designed to assist bidders and sureties on key components of the Round 2021 process:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 21, 2019)—Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) are leading a Congressional sign-on letter asking CMS and HHS to reverse course on their recent decision to add non-invasive vents to the competitive bidding program for Round 2021.
Their letter to CMS reads in part:
Washington, D.C. (May 17, 2019)—A group of industry trade organizations is commending the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for releasing detailed guidance describing how bidders’ estimated capacity will drive the final single payment amounts (SPAs) and for announcing a new bidding window for Medicare’s Round 2021 of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program (CBP).
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 2, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be hosting three webcasts as part of their education program to assist bidders and sureties on CB 2021. During the webcasts, CMS will be accepting questions from participants but encourages question submissions before the webcast at [email protected] with “Webcast Question” in the subject line. Below is the schedule for the webcasts and providers can register for the first session here.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 2, 2019)—New legislation to establish a separate benefit for complex rehab technology (CRT) wheelchairs under Medicare has been introduced in the House. H.R. 2408, sponsored by Reps.
HARTFORD, Conn. and PHILADELPHIA (April 23, 2019)—CareCentrix, a pioneer in home-based post-acute care (PAC) solutions, and Turn-Key Health, a provider of community-based palliative care solutions to health plans and provider organizations, announced a partnership which expands the CareCentrix PAC program by integrating Turn-Key’s Palliative Illness Management (PIM) solution for patients burdened by a serious or advanced illness.
(April 23, 2019)—One of the two Medicare trust funds is on pace to run out of funds in seven years, according a report released Monday by the Medicare Board of Trustees. The projections align with last year’s forecasts.
Due to the aging population, spending for the Medicare hospital insurance trust fund--which covers Part A and Part C plans--could be depleted by 2026, the report said. Medicare costs are projected to continue to rise during this time.
A multifaceted approach to M&A activity
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.
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