CBIC Releases Competitive Bidding Updates
CBIC notified Round 2021 bidders of three important dates

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2019)—Yesterday, the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) notified Round 2021 bidders of three important dates regarding their bids. Below is the chart provided by the CBIC that includes the type of notice, date the notice will be available on Connexion, and the deadline for bidders to respond to the notice.

Notice

CMS Updates Competitive Bidding Webinars, Adds Additional Date

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:

BOC Names Jim Newberry Award Winner

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (December 12, 2018)—The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) is pleased to announce James “Jim” L. Hewlett, BOCO as the 2018 recipient of the Jim Newberry Award for Extraordinary Service. Hewlett was nominated by Newberry’s widow, Lynne, who describes Hewlett as “one of the most qualified, generous and patient teachers I ever have been blessed to observe.”

ACHC Partners with Imark Billing

CARY, N.C. (December 6, 2018)—Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has announced a new partnership with Imark Billing that allows Imark Billing customers to receive special pricing on ACHC’s home health, hospice and private duty accreditation services, as well as discounts on Accreditation University (AU) educational resources that help prepare association members for ACHC accreditation.

GAO: Prior Authorization Saves Money
Recent report recommends extending and renewing current programs.

By Kristin Easterling

(May 24, 2018)—Recently, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a study on Medicare prior authorization requirements. The requirements began in seven states for certain power mobility devices such as power wheelchairs in 2012. The categories later expanded to include DME, home health and others.

VGM Publishes Second Industry Playbook

WATERLOO, Iowa (May 2, 2018)—VGM Group, Inc. announced today the official release of its latest playbook, Industry Insights: How to Capitalize on Opportunities in Post-Acute Health.  

This is the second edition in a series that the membership service organization has created for stakeholders in the DMEPOS industry to download and use to adjust to an ever-changing business climate.

Physician Decision Letter Can be Included in DMEPOS Prior Authorization Process

—Via AAHomecare—WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 16, 2017)—Last year, CMS finalized the rule to move forward with expanding the prior authorization (PA) program. Although the program has great support from the industry, AAHomecare expressed concern with the lack of physician involvement in the correspondence of the PA decision. Unlike the PMD Demonstration, under the PA expansion, DME MACs cannot automatically communicate with referring physicians on the PA decision.

Majority of DMEPOS Improper Payments Due to Insufficient Documentation

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 16, 2017)—Last month, CMS published the annual Medicare Fee-For-Service Improper Payments Report. CMS reports that for dates of service between July 2014–June 2015, the error rate for DMEPOS was 46 percent, which is an increase of 7 percent from the previous year. For the report, 10,999 DMEPOS claims were reviewed. However, CMS states that the majority of this rate is attributed to insufficient documentation and not due to medical necessity.

DATA Act of 2017 Would Help Prevent Medicare Audits for HME
New legislation builds upon previous prior authorization legislation.

Via AAHomecare—WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 17, 2017)—We have just received confirmation that Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has formally introduced legislation that would require prior authorization for certain home medical equipment items in higher price ranges. The formal title for HR 2445 will be the DMEPOS Access and Transparency Act of 2017, and may also be referred to as the DATA Act of 2017.

CMS Delays Round 2019 Competitive Bidding
New administration will have opportunity to review program prior to moving forward.

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.