WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 20, 2019)—With the CB Round 2021 bid window closing Wednesday, The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) hopes to rally suppliers and other HME stakeholders to resume advocacy on HME policy priorities, including extending and expanding relief for non-bid rural suppliers (HR 2771), CRT-related legislation (HR 2293, S 1223, and HR 2408), and expected legislation on non-invasive ventilators in competitive bidding.
HME
Caution needed when dealing with federal regulations
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 10, 2019)—The DME CBP Collaboration has sent the following update to users who have registered with the dmecbpeducation.com resource related to the site's bidding calculators:
The DME CBP Collaboration thanks you for engaging in Competitive Bidding Program education.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 5, 2019)—The American Association for Homecare’s (AAHomecare) newest council convened for the first time in Arlington, Virginia, last week and got off to a flying start. The initial meeting for the Payer Relations Council focused on establishing strategic objectives for 2020 and beginning to build the road map for the HME industry to succeed outside of the Medicare space.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (August 22, 2019)—Aeroflow Healthcare announced the results of a proprietary survey designed to stress the importance of communication between seniors and their friends and family as they age. The third-party administered survey polled 1,003 adults aged 60 or older living in the United States and was completed over a span of three days in July 2019.
Notable survey results include:
LAS VEGAS (August 20, 2019)—The Call For Presentations for Medtrade Spring 2020 is officially open. Medtrade Spring is looking for speakers in a variety of categories to fill the March educational program. Sessions for the 2020 conference cover a wide range of topics:
Monitor loads and bring drivers on board with logging logistics
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 13, 2019)—On Aug.
Accreditation model lets HME dealers increase referrals & revenue
ATLANTA (July 30, 2019)—Prospective Medtrade attendees can still take advantage of Early Rates to get excellent deals on an Educational Conference Pass or Expo Pass. An Educational Conference Pass provides access to all educational sessions and automatically includes access to the Expo Hall.
*Updated July 29, 2019*
PITTSBURGH (July 26, 2019)—Continuum, a CHC Solutions, Inc. company formerly called Interphase Medical Equipment, signed a new five-year lease with Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania (RIDC) and will be more than doubling the size of their Pittsburgh headquarters in the Findlay Center at RIDC Park West Industrial Park from 11,510 to 28,479 square feet.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 16, 2019)—Changes to the TRICARE regions to consolidate to two plans from the previous three plans have been fraught with provider network and claims processing issues. While AAHomecare has been contacted regarding these issues with both regions, the bulk of the issues have been with the TRICARE East contractor, Humana Military.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 15, 2019)—CMS has issued blanket waivers for areas affected by Topical Storm Barry in Louisiana. The waivers are implemented retroactively to July 10, 2019 for 90 days (approximately October 8, 2019). The blanket waivers can be used for DMEPOS items that have been lost, damaged or destroyed. To use this waiver, suppliers will need to provide a narrative description on the claim that explains the reason the equipment needs to be replaced.
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Penn. (July 9, 2019)—AdaptHealth, which claims to be third largest distributor of home medical equipment (HME) in the United States, announced that it will combine operations with DFB Healthcare Acquisitions Corp. (DFB), a publicly traded company.
Standing tall with Courtney Williamson
Washington, D.C. (June 27, 2019)—Years of relationship-building between AAHomecare, the South Carolina Medical Equipment Services Association (SCMESA) and South Carolina Medicaid (SC Medicaid) is paying off for durable medical equipment (DME) providers in the state, AAHomecare reports.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 25, 2019)—More than 40% of the members of the United States House of Representatives have joined a letter asking federal regulators to keep noninvasive ventilators out of the next round of the competitive bidding program for HME.
ATLANTA (June 18, 2019)—Providers looking for the absolute lowest price to attend Medtrade 2019 can now take advantage of SmartSaver rates.
With SmartSaver rates, attendees can purchase an Educational Conference Pass for $109. An Educational Conference Pass provides access to all educational sessions and automatically includes access to the Expo Hall. A SmartSaver Expo Pass is available for $25.
(June 13, 2019)—Minnesota HME leaders thwarted a plan to source incontinence products under Medicaid through a single distributor, with all providers billing for cost+20% for items purchased through that supplier.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (June 7, 2019)—Seema Verma, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), released an update on the administration’s #PatientsOverPaperwork initiative, citing the need for competition in the industry. But some home medical equipment (HME) providers weren't convinced.