AUSTIN, Texas, (October 11, 2021)—Movair, a respiratory therapy company formerly known as International Biophysics Corporation, announced the U.S. commercial launch of Luisa, an advanced ventilator intended for use in homes, institutions, hospitals or portable applications for both invasive and noninvasive ventilation. Luisa can be used through the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization in response to the increasing need for safe and effective ventilators.
DME
Today’s market trends will shape the future
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 7, 2021)—The American Assocation for Homecare (AAHomecare) shared that it had received confirmation from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the agency that manages the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), that durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers are eligible for General Distribution Phase 3 and Phase 4 funding.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2021)—AAHomecare’s first-ever virtual legislative conference saw 140 durable medical equipment (DME) industry advocates engage more than 220 Congressional offices on DME priorities, including addressing Medicare rates that don’t reflect the market realities and rising costs currently facing suppliers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2021)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made $25.5 billion in funds available starting Sept. 29th. HHS is now accepting applications for General Distribution Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments. HHS is also accepting requests for reconsideration of Phase 3 payment calculations.
A new venture from leaders in the durable medical equipment (DME) industry is looking to increase the use of e-prescribe across the DME space. The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare), VGM & Associates, Ltd., AdaptHealth, LLC., Apria Healthcare Group LLC, Lincare Inc. and Rotech Healthcare Inc., have joined to form an independent e-prescribe company DMEscripts.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 8, 2021)—Leaders of the durable medical equipment (DME) industry announced the formation of DMEscripts LLC, an independent e-prescribe company dedicated to improving the patient, prescriber and provider experience by eliminating inefficiencies and reducing paperwork.
Legal issues to consider long before you make your exit
NEWARK, N.J. (August 12, 2021)—A federal grand jury in Newark, New Jersey, returned a superseding indictment this week charging a Florida owner of multiple telemedicine companies with orchestrating a health care fraud and illegal kickback scheme that involved the submission of over $784 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. This is one of the largest Medicare fraud schemes ever charged by the Justice Department.
PITTSBURGH, Penn. (June 8, 202)—sovaSage Incorporated, a Pittsburgh based company, announced the latest release of its TherapistAssist software (version 7.0). This new release provides an effortless and instantaneous handoff of mask and mask sizing recommendations between sleep labs, home sleep study services and durable medical equipment (DME) providers.
By Jonathan Mattise, Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 22, 2021)—State and federal authorities announced Wednesday that they have reached a $4.1 million settlement in a civil case that made claims of Medicaid and Medicare fraud against a now-shuttered pain clinic company and several of its owners, including a former state senator.
The planets have aligned
SAN DIEGO, Calif. & WAYNE, Penn. (March 25, 2021)—Mitchell | Genex |Coventry, a provider of cost-containment technology, provider networks, clinical services, pharmacy benefit management and disability management, announced the launch of the organization’s new specialty networks business, Apricus. The business will combine the best of what has been historically known as DMEplus and Priority Care Solutions.
LOS ANGELES (March 25, 2021)—The Wound Pros announced that Michael MacDonald would be joining its team as vice president of sales and marketing for eastern U.S. MacDonald brings a wealth of experience in sales, marketing, and training as well as operations experience in many areas of healthcare with a passion for aligning teams to transform business.
SAN FRANCISCO (March 25, 2021)—Better Health, the next-generation medical supplier offering a seamless e-commerce experience and white-glove service to 80 million Americans with chronic conditions, has announced its official launch with the close of a $3.5 million seed round and national contracts with leading health insurers, including Oscar Health and Humana.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 3, 2021)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the Revised January 2021 DMEPOS Fee Schedule. In the announcement, CMS stated that errors were identified in the original fee schedule that was published on Dec. 11, 2020 and this new fee schedule includes adjustments to 919 HCPCS codes.
NEW YORK (March 2, 2021)—Tomorrow Health, a patient-first platform for home-based care, today announced a partnership with Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) to provide more than half a million patients with access to curated home durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies.
WASHINGTON, DC (February 26, 2021)—The Council for Quality Respiratory Care—a coalition of the nation's leading home respiratory therapy providers and manufacturing companies—partnered with the American Association for Homecare and The VGM Group in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Acting Administrator Elizabeth Richter urging the agency to finalize the
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 24, 2021)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that efforts are underway to support Texas in response to severe winter storms that have affected the state over the past several days. On Feb. 17, 2021, Health and Human Services Acting Secretary Norris Cochran declared a public health emergency (PHE) for Texas retroactive to Feb.11, 2021.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 18, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the CY 2021 Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Fee Schedule. As of Jan. 1, 2021, CMS will continue to apply the CARES Act relief rates for rural and nonrural areas.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (December 3, 2020)—The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) recently released updates on its ongoing efforts to combat health care fraud and abuse by publishing the results of its 2020 takedown effort targeting, among others, fraud and abuse in the telemedicine and prescription drug industries (2020 Takedown).