CMS

LENEXA, Kan. (March 9, 2017)—Mediware Information Systems, Inc. is hosting a free webinar for attendees on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at 1:00 Central, 2:00 EST, to learn how the new Trump administration may impact DME providers and the current competitive bidding program.

LAS VEGAS (March 1, 2017)—At Tuesday morning’s Washington Update, AAHomecare senior staff recounted important achievements from the last six months and discussed the prospects for additional gains for the HME industry in 2017. AAHomecare president and CEO Tom Ryan led off by describing 2017 as a year of opportunity for HME on the public policy front, thanks in part to new leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

via AAHomecare WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 15, 2017)—As we reported last week, CMS has released guidance to the DME MACs for retroactive reimbursement adjustments for rural/non-bid area providers for equipment and services furnished between July 1-Dec. 31, 2016, as mandated by CURES legislation that passed late last year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 13, 2017)—CMS released last week guidance to the DME MACs for retroactive reimbursement adjustments for rural/non-bid area providers for equipment and services furnished between July 1–December 31, 2016. These adjustments follow provisions in last year’s CURES legislation providing a measure of relief for rural/non-bid area providers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 8, 2017)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to temporarily delay moving forward with the next steps of the Round 2019 Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program to allow the new administration further opportunity to review the program.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 31, 2017)—CMS today announced plans to consolidate all rounds and areas included in the competitive bidding program for DME into a single round of competition to be known as Round 2019. The Round 1 2017, Round 2 Recompete, and National Mail-Order Recompete contract periods for all product categories will all continue through December 31, 2018. Round 2019 contracts will take effect on January 1, 2019, and run through Dec. 31, 2021.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 30, 2017)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) is calling on the contractors administering TRICARE military health plans nationwide to reprocess claims for home medical equipment for the last six months of 2016 on account of provisions in recent health care legislation affecting Medicare reimbursement rates.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 27, 2017)—The HME Audit Key is a free web-based survey the American Association for Homecare developed in response to a lack of data and information provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the impact the audit programs are having on HME Suppliers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 18, 2017)—CMS published guidance to the states on Friday, January 13, in an effort to give strategies to the state to ensure access to DMEPOS is available. This was issued due to comments from 2016 on CMS 1651-P and 2011 comments submitted in response to Federal Register Request for Comment on alignment under Medicaid and Medicare. While CMS cannot enforce these suggestions, we believe that they would benefit both states and providers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 17, 2017)—Data is the lifeblood of the value-based payment environment. Every time a doctor takes care of a patient, we have an opportunity to use information in ways that help patients get better care. The goal is to use the information from each patient encounter to make the next encounter better—across the entire health care system. But it is easier said than done.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 11, 2017)—AAHomecare’s State Leaders Council, comprised of state association leadership from across the country, formed a Work Group to collaboratively develop strategies and coordinate resources for tackling the provision in recent CURES legislation that limits the federal portion of Medicaid spending to competitive bidding prices for DMEPOS starting in 2018.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 9, 2017)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today finalized rules governing home health agencies that will improve the quality of health care services for Medicare and Medicaid patients and strengthen patients’ rights. These Medicare and Medicaid Conditions of Participation are the minimum health and safety standards a home health agency must meet in order to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Update: On Wedneday, November 30, 2016, the House passed the measure with sweeping bipartisan support.

Update: On Wedneday, November 30, 2016, the House passed the measure with sweeping bipartisan support.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 17, 2016)—The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC)—a coalition of the nation’s leading home oxygen therapy provider and manufacturing companies—today urged lawmakers in Congress to prioritize enactment of provisions of the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment (PADME) Act before the end of the congressional session. The PADME Act would reinstate the phase-in period of deep Medicare cuts to home respiratory care supplies and services.

WASHINGTON (November 15, 2016)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 2017 premiums for the Medicare inpatient hospital (Part A) and physician and outpatient hospital services (Part B) programs.

Medicare Part B Premiums/Deductibles
Medicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment and other items.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 11, 2016)—Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposed rule to update Medicare fire protection guidelines for certain dialysis facilities to ensure that patients are protected from fire while receiving treatment in those facilities. CMS strives to promote health and safety for all patients, family and staff in every provider and supplier setting, and fire safety requirements are an important part of this effort.

—Via CMS, WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 11, 2016)—We’ve discussed a number of times how our country’s health care system historically invested far more in treating sickness than maintaining health. This imbalance contributes to more spending on institutions, hospitals and nursing homes, rather than keeping people healthy at home and in their communities.

ATLANTA (November 2, 2016)—Day three at Medtrade got off to an optimistic start with United States Representative Tom Price, M.D. (R-Ga) telling attendees that there was a “significant possibility that we can get a year’s delay [on bid expansion] starting January 1, 2017.”