HME

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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 17, 2020)—AAHomecare joined the Home Medical Equipment and Services Association of New England (HOMES) in commenting on Medicaid rate analysis commissioned by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to help guide future rate-setting efforts. The joint comments take issue with the choice of states used for comparison purposes, noting significant differences in the service areas and Medicaid program operating structures versus those in Maine.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 4, 2020)—Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois) and David McKinley (R-West Virginia ) have introduced legislation to prevent Medicare reimbursement cuts to health care providers through the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act (H.R. 8840) would continue a pause of 2% Medicare sequester cuts through the duration of the public health emergency. In March, Congress halted the 2% sequester cuts through Dec.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 3, 2020)—Forty-two legislators who co-sponsored home medical equipment industry priority legislation or endorsed an industry supported sign-on letter in the 116th Congress will not be returning when the new session convenes in January 2021. The departing legislators include three Senators and 39 House members who did not win re-election this November, retired or had left Congress earlier in the term.

DALLAS (November 24, 2020)—Hospice Source, a provider of durable medical equipment dedicated to the hospice market, acquired Superior Healthcare, Inc. of Martinez, California. The acquisition furthers Hospice Source's position as the largest provider of hospice focused durable medical equipment in the state of California. 

NEW YORK (November 23, 2020)—In the wake of several private treaty bulk sales and an initial single-facility auction, Tiger Group will be conducting online auctions in December for the remaining $7 million in inventories plus other assets from two East Coast facilities operated by American Medical Depot (AMD), a major distributor of medical equipment and supplies that is now winding down its business.

RICHMOND, Va. (November 20, 2020)—Governor Ralph Northam has signed Virginia’s 2021-2022 budget containing an amendment requiring Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to reimburse home medical equipment (HME) providers at a minimum of 90% of the State’s Medicaid fee schedule effective July 1, 2021.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 18, 2020)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) urged government officials to include DMEPOS suppliers in the Phase 1 Distribution of COVID-19 vaccine for front-line health care personnel.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (November 11, 2020)—3B Medical is pleased to welcome Katherine Royster to the 3B Medical team in the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In this role Royster will execute our marketing and sales strategy in the U.S. market and lead the company’s independent sales representatives across the country.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 27, 2020)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the single payment amounts (SPAs) for the Off-The-Shelf (OTS) Back Braces and OTS Knee Braces product categories included in Round 2021 of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP) and began awarding contracts in certain competitive bidding areas (CBAs).

PHILADELPHIA (October 27, 2020)—Essity, a global hygiene and health company and the maker of TENA incontinence and skin care products, announced that the company is beginning a pilot program of its TENA SmartCare Change Indicator, a new digital health technology that reduces the need for manual checks of incontinence products through a digital sensor linked to a smartphone app. The pilot program follows the product’s regulatory clearance by the U.S.

CARY, N.C. (October 21, 2020)—In a historic move, Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) are joining to form a single company with the programs, knowledge and resources to provide complete, quality accreditation and certification services to health care providers globally across the entire continuum of care. HFAP will operate as a brand within ACHC, and collectively the organization will be known as ACHC.