Archive: June 2013
Stakeholders: Delay efforts don't end July 1
June 28, 2013Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - After the failure of an 11th hour attempt to delay the July 1 start date of Round 2 of competitive bidding, HME industry stakeholders have set their sights on the coming weeks.A federal judge on June 27 denied a request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) that would have prevented Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), from implementing Round 2. The TRO request was made by AAHomecare and Home MediService. The two parties on June 19 also...
Disqualified contract suppliers speak out
June 28, 2013Liz Beaulieu, Editor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Industry stakeholders and lawmakers have made an example out of them in their fight against competitive bidding, but some disqualified contract suppliers for Tennessee say the issue isn't that black and white.“There is more than meets the eye, and it's not just a few lazy suppliers,” said a disqualified contract supplier that asked not to be named.First, there's the confusion over when providers had to meet the licensure requirements in Tennessee. Per CMS's rules, providers...
In brief: Lawmakers call for investigation, Allstate sues DME entities
June 28, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - In a June 21 letter to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, call on the agency to investigate the possibility that CMS deliberately overlooked its own rules when awarding contracts for competitive bidding, according to a press release. The OIG is charged with identifying and combating waste, fraud and abuse in more than 300 programs, including Medicare. “We have asked the Inspector General to look into the shortfalls,...
CMS pushes back face-to-face requirement
June 28, 2013HME News Staff
BALTIMORE - The HME industry got a small reprieve June 27 when CMS announced it would not enforce the new face-to-face requirement until Oct. 1.
The rule was slated to go into effect July 1, along with Round 2 of competitive bidding.
In a letter to Congress on June 27, the Office of Legislation at CMS stated:
“CMS is concerned that some may need additional time to establish operational protocols to comply with this new law. As such, CMS expects that during the next several months,...
Beth Bowen to lead FAHCS
June 28, 2013HME News Staff
CARY, N.C. - The Florida Alliance of Home Care Services (FAHCS) has signed on with TayCar, an association management resources group headed up by Beth Bowen. TayCar already manages the North Carolina and Virginia state HME associations. TayCar provides education planning, advocacy and regulatory work, networking advancement, member services, communications and public relations, and day-to-day operational management services. “We have had thought-provoking discussions with new ideas that have...
Sleep960 turns to telehealth to increase adherence
June 28, 2013HME News Staff
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Signature Sleep Services (dba Sleep960), in conjunction with CPAPCoach.com, has initiated a telehealth service solution for patients experiencing difficulties adapting to and living with sleep apnea. The program, “Adherence by Alliance,” is a three-part series of encounters using evidence-based practice, namely motivational interviewing, to overcome barriers and provide a patient-centered approach to care. CPAPCoach was founded by Robyn Woidtke, MSN, RN, RPSGT. “These...
Chelsie Hill: Keep pushing, keep trying
June 28, 2013Elizabeth Deprey
You guys might remember I wrote a blog last year when Sundance Channel came out with a new reality show, "Push Girls," that focuses on women with wheelchairs in LA. Today, I got to talk to one of those "Push Girls," Chelsie Hill. Here's a sneak preview of the Q&A I'm working on:
In the years since being injured in a 2010 accident, Chelsie Hill, 20, has spent her time advocating against distracted driving and for people with spinal cord injuries. As one of the stars of Sundance...
101 Mobility hits Florida
June 28, 2013HME News Staff
TAMPA - Dennis Clouser has opened Florida's first 101 Mobility franchise. 101 Mobility Tampa will provide families and businesses from Clearwater, Largo, St. Pete, Tampa and outlying areas with professionally installed stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, patient lifts, wheelchair lifts, auto lifts, pool lifts and more. 101 Mobility in May entered into an equity partnership with the Cortec Group, a New York-based private equity firm, a move that the company says will allow it to grow to its full potential.
Beyond bidding and the face-to-face rule
June 28, 2013Liz Beaulieu, Editor
Since Theresa has so diligently updated everyone on 1.) the industry's latest efforts to kill competitive bidding (check out the HME Newswire on Monday for the latest, including a denied temporary restraining order) and 2.) the breaking news that CMS has delayed implementation of the face-to-face requirement, I'm going to write about something that has nothing to do with either of these hugely important topics.
But that doesn't mean that what I'm about to write about is any less important.
Au contraire.
Spurred...
Invacare to close billing service
June 28, 2013Liz Beaulieu, Editor
ELYRIA, Ohio - Invacare will close Invacare HCS, a business unit providing billing services to HME providers, by Aug. 30, according to Lara Mahoney, director of investor relations and corporate communications.
Invacare is making the move as part of overall efforts to reduce complexity in its business, Mahoney says.
“It's outside of our core business and not something we were able to focus on growing,” she said.
Invacare bought Akron, Ohio-based Bargmann Management and re-branded...