ATLANTA (October 19, 2018)—Chart Industries, Inc., has signed a definitive agreement to divest its oxygen-related products business within its BioMedical segment to NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. (NGK Spark Plug) for $133.5 million. The sale is expected to close within the fourth quarter of 2018, following the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory requirements.
oxygen
Meeting supply chain challenges in Hawaii
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (September 25, 2018)—Aeroflow Healthcare, announced the donation and rental of medical equipment and supplies to Asheville, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina, area shelters for Hurricane Florence evacuees.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 20, 2018)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) submitted comments on the ESRD/DMEPOS Proposed Rule that CMS released in mid-July.
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 31, 2018)—OxyGo has relocated the company headquarters from Westlake, Ohio to Orlando, Florida, with a goal to provide upgraded service and products for customers.
“We are pleased to announce that effective July 1st, 2018, OxyGo Headquarters Florida, will become the parent company for all the Applied Companies, including Applied Home Healthcare Equipment, LLC and OxyGo, LLC,” said managing director, Victoria Marquard-Schultz, Esq.
ST. LOUIS (July 31, 2018)—Responsive Respiratory Inc.'s (RRI) pediatric regulator with engraved flow conversion chart is now available with the newly added 1/64th setting to its 0‐3 LPM flows. The pediatric regulators are available with a CGA 870 or CGA 540 connection, and with a barb or DISS outlet.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 7, 2018)—Since 2015, AAHomecare has been tracking the number of suppliers and their locations to monitor the impact of competitive bidding and other factors on the industry. The analysis has helped to bring these issues to the attention of Congressional offices and HHS to illustrate the need for more sustainable Medicare reimbursement rates and bidding program reforms.
Effective date of August 1 give providers time to adapt.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 14, 2018)—Effective August 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will require suppliers to use KX, GA, GY and GZ modifiers on oxygen claims. The KX modifier will indicate when payment criteria is met, and the GA, GY and GZ modifiers provide more information for oxygen claims that do not meet payment criteria.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 27, 2018)—CMS issued guidance titled "Billing Instruction—Oxygen CMN Question 5" on February 15, 2018, requiring suppliers to obtain revised oxygen CMNs for all patients that had different liter flows of oxygen in a 24-hour period effective April 1, 2018. The guidance required the industry to tell prescribers to not answer Question 5 of the CMN as stated on the form.
CHICAGO (March 12, 2018)—This spring, global manufacturer and distributer Sunset Healthcare Solutions will expand its respiratory offerings to include additional home medical equipment. Since 2004, the company has specialized in product solutions in the respiratory category, including CPAP and oxygen disposables.
“We’re proud to bring these new products to our loyal customer base,” said Melissa Allis, marketing coordinator at Sunset Healthcare Solutions.
Public hearing scheduled to discuss concerns.
Via HOMES, NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (November 30, 2017)—Late afternoon on November 22, MassHealth published proposed regulation and rate changes and scheduled a public hearing for December 13 at 1 p.m. in the First Floor Conference Room, 100 Hancock Street, Quincy, Mass. The proposed effective date of the regulations is February 23, 2018.
ST. LOUIS (November 13, 2017)—Responsive Respiratory expands their cylinder stand offering with upgraded dual‐use MM/M60 stand.
The upgraded MM/M60 stand features a set of extended length thumbscrews to secure either of the two cylinder sizes. The dual‐use design aids in the reduction of inventory for providers and is ideal for placement of back‐up cylinders in oxygen patients’ homes.
ATLANTA (October 3, 2017)—Mobile telehealth and remote patient monitoring company SynsorMed Inc. has formed a strategic relationship with a leading global manufacturer of oxygen delivery equipment, CAIRE Inc., to provide medical equipment providers with the tools they need to serve their patients suffering from respiratory disease.
BALL GROUND, Ga. (September 26, 2017)—CAIRE Inc. (CAIRE), the manufacturer of the AirSep, CAIRE and SeQual brands of wearable, portable and stationary oxygen concentrators, has appointed Altra Service Professionals as the authorized service center serving customers in New Jersey and the New England states.
Altra Service Professionals will perform both warranty and non-warranty service for CAIRE products from their facility in Berlin, Connecticut.
CMS updates guidance for providers, and RACs halt audits in storm affected areas.
—Via AAHomecare, WASHINGTON, D.C.
The original design was developed by the Air Force.
BALL GROUND, Ga. (August 8, 2017)—CAIRE Inc. formally announced the launch of the new SAROS 15 oxygen concentrator for combat casualty care at its respiratory Center of Excellence in Ball Ground.
Competitive bidding rates fail to cover the cost of delivery.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The adjustments reflect the July 1–December 1, 2016 period.
—Via AAHomecare WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 2, 2017)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has updated the fee schedule for rural and non-bid areas to adjust reimbursements to rural providers for products and services furnished between the July 1–December 31 period.
The report from AAHomecare paints a stark picture of the post-bidding world.
—Via AAHomecare, WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 26, 2017)—According to research AAHomecare had been performing using Medicare data, the number of traditional suppliers of home medical equipment to Medicare beneficiaries has dropped 40.9 percent since July 2013. In addition, the number of unique locations (commonly referred to as rooftops) serving Medicare beneficiaries has declined by 38.7 percent during the same period.
BALL GROUND, Ga. (February 14, 2017)—CAIRE Inc., a Chart Industries Company, has opened a new authorized service center in Lake City, Florida.
Through a partnership with Oxygen Sales & Service, Inc., the new 3500-square-foot facility located at 115 SW Bonanza Glen, Lake City, FL 32025-2147 will have eight employees.