durable medical equipment

PLYMOUTH, Minnesota—Nonin Medical, a global manufacturer of wearable and noninvasive medical monitoring devices, has announced the launch of the Nonin Health platform. The purpose-built cloud-based data ecosystem and software platform is designed for durable and home medical equipment (DME/HME) providers, sleep dentists and sleep labs.

MIAMI—The United States has filed civil forfeiture complaints in the Southern District of Florida against two purported durable medical equipment (DME) companies accused of fraudulently billing Medicare more than $33 million combined.

According to allegations in the complaints, Vida Med Center LLC and Med-Union Medical Center, Inc., both enrolled Medicare providers, submitted false and fraudulent claims for DME that were medically unnecessary and not provided as represented.

BOSTON—A Canton, Massachusetts, man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud Medicare of more than $4 million by submitting claims for durable medical equipment (DME) that was medically unnecessary, not wanted by the Medicare beneficiaries and tainted by kickbacks.

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina—The state of Maine recently passed the bill titled LD 145, which exempts durable medical sales tax. Aeroflow Health in North Carolina announced it is celebrating the passing of LD 145 to exempt durable medical equipment from sales tax in Maine, including breast pumps. 

TAMPA, Florida—District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington sentenced Lino Mallari Gutierrez, aka “Joe Gutierrez," to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay more than $5.6 million in restitution for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare. 

PORT SAINT LUCIE, Florida—A Florida man was sentenced to 12 years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to defraud Medicare with false reimbursement claims for durable medical equipment (DME). He was also ordered to pay $21,195,540.18 in restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $2,514,040.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas—As flood recovery continues in Texas, Project MEND announced it is stepping up to support individuals and families affected by the disaster.

The San Antonio-based organization, a provider of refurbished medical equipment to those in need, is deploying durable medical equipment (DME) through the relocation centers in the impacted areas.

CLEVELAND—Mohammed Ahmad, 38, of Avon, Ohio, pleaded guilty to submitting orders for patients in connection with a durable medical equipment (DME) scheme that prosecutors said caused Medicare to be unnecessarily billed for thousands of dollars.

CINCINNATI—Quipt Home Medical Corp. announced it has acquired a full-service durable medical equipment (DME) provider that is wholly owned by Ballad Health. Ballad Health is an integrated health system comprised of 20 hospitals, post-acute care and behavioral health services, and a large multi-specialty group physician practice. Ballad Health serves 29 counties of the Appalachian Highlands in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky.

HOUSTON, Texas—Twenty-two cases were announced in Texas as part of local efforts targeting health care fraud. The cases include alleged hospice fraud, kickbacks, Medicare and Medicaid fraud schemes involving medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME) and more.

FREDERICK, Maryland—Adam DME, a provider of durable medical equipment (DME), announced the release of its new line of nebulizers designed for faster, more efficient treatment. These nebulizers are now available across Maryland and nearby regions, offering respiratory care for individuals with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic respiratory conditions.

WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) released a proposed rule on home health and durable medical equipment (DME) that includes new provisions for the next implementation of the Competitive Bidding Program (CBP), the American Association for Homecare (AAHomeCare) shared in an email with its members. 

AUSTIN, Texas—EqualizeRCM, a company that helps health care providers maximize performance through revenue cycle management (RCM) solutions, announced it has invested in MedNet LLC, a provider of RCM services for durable medical equipment (DME) and physician specialty practices.

WASHINGTON—New legislation (S 2066) introduced in the House and Senate would create a pilot program for testing the use of a predictive risk-scoring algorithm to provide oversight of payments for durable medical equipment (DME) and clinical diagnostic laboratory tests under the Medicare program. 

Gillette, WYOMING—Campbell County Health has announced the grand opening and relocation of Home Medical Resources (HMR) to its new, expanded location at 1201 W 2nd Street, (formerly the Gillette News Record building). 

PORT WASHINGTON, New York—Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, a provider of durable medical equipment (DME) and respiratory products, announced that it has acquired the product line of De Oro Devices, the California-based company behind NexStride, a mobility aid designed to help people with Parkinson’s disease and other mobility-limiting conditions.

OWINGS MILLS, Maryland—In response to recent regulatory developments, the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) have established a partnership to support DMEPOS providers impacted by the recent CMS restrictions placed on BOC for new accreditation and reaccredited services in four states (California, Florida, New York, Texas).