WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 18, 2019)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued a proposed rule significantly revising the nondiscrimination regulations that implemented Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The revisions are intended to reduce burden, eliminate redundancy with several other nondiscriminatory regulations, and provide clarity in the application of nondiscrimination requirements.
HHS
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).
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 30, 2019)—On Friday, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new interpretations to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 regarding HIPAA violations.
The HITECH Act outlined four tiers of violations for covered entities by level of culpability:
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (February 15, 2019)—The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) over a misguided policy determination that could significantly reduce patients’ access to home infusion therapy services.
LENEXA, Kan. (October 1, 2018)—WellSky, a health and community care technology company backed by TPG Capital, announced that recently acquired BlueStrata EHR, a cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) for long-term post-acute care providers, is taking on WellSky’s branding to become WellSky Long-Term Care.
(August 13, 2018)—Since inception in March 2007, the 10 Medicare Fraud Strike Force units have charged more than 3,700 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). A new force in the Newark, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania region has just been added.
Hospital-acquired condition rates falling with improved best practices.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 6, 2018)—Data released this week by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) show continued progress in improving patient safety, a signal that initiatives led by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are helping to make care safer.
Conducting a mock audit shows good intentions to payers and auditors
Report does not adequately assess beneficiary access issues, CQRC says.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 29, 2018)—The Council on Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) today warned a report released by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG)—Round 2 Competitive Bidding for Oxygen: Continued Access For Vast Majority of Beneficiaries—underestimates the negative impact the Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medicare Equipment (DME) continues to have on beneficiary access to home respiratory supplies and services.
Each week, our editors select the top 5 headlines in our industry from media outlets across the web.
Follow-up RFI issued to gain additional insight.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 23, 2018)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it has released the comments submitted by patients, clinicians, innovators and others in response to the CMS Innovation Center’s New Direction Request for Information (RFI).
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 26, 2018)—On Wednesday, January 25, the U.S. Senate confirmed Alex Azar to serve as the new Health and Human Services secretary by a vote of 55-43.
WASHINGTON, D.C.(January 24, 2018)—The Senate confirmed the nomination of Alex Azar as head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday.
The Senate voted 55–43 in favor of Azar’s appointment.
Azar is a veteran of HHS, having served for two years as the deputy secretary, and prior to that as general counsel of the department. From 2012–2017, Azar was head of the U.S. division of Eli Lilly and Company, a pharmaceuticals manufacturer.
Homecare Agencies Often Wrongly Deny Medicare Help to the Chronically Ill
A leading industry group contends that Medicare's home health care policies are often misconstrued. (Susan Jaffe/Kaiser Health News/NPR Health Shots)
Act requires HHS Secretary to develop strategy to support family caregivers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 9, 2018)—AARP welcomes passage in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives of the bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act (H.R. 3759). The legislation, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and in the U.S. House by Representatives Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), requires the U.S.
Statement from Tom Ryan
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 14, 2017)— Statement of Tom Ryan, AAHomecare president and CEO, on the nomination of Alex Azar as Secretary of the Dept. of Health & Human Services:
The request is to work with stakeholders and protect patient access.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 4, 2017)—The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare (Partnership)—a coalition of home health providers dedicated to improving the integrity, quality and efficiency of home health care for our nation's seniors—thanks seven Georgia Members of Congress for recently sending a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging the withdrawal of the proposed Home Health Groupings Model (HHGM).
Don J. Wright will step in as interim.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 29, 2017)—In less than 24 hours from Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price’s September 28, 2017 statement of regret and correction over recent taxpayer funded travel, the man whom some pinned high homecare industry reform hopes on resigned.
Connectivity in the home drives a dynamic circle of care