Archive: December 2018
Accessories relief stalls in Senate
December 28, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The window for the Senate to pass accessories relief is “narrowing” rapidly.Amidst a government shutdown, the Senate returned to session at 4 p.m. Thursday for only a few minutes and took no action on H.R. 7217 or any other legislation. It will reconvene on Monday at 10 a.m., before the 115th Congress comes to a close, according to industry stakeholders.“So the legislative session remains open and we will see what progress is made between now and then on the shutdown...
AAH: seeks payer relations professional, submits comments
December 27, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare is looking to add to its payer relations team. The association is recruiting a director of payer relations to join Laura Williard, vice president of payer relations. “As enrollment in Medicaid programs and in Medicare Advantage plans continues to rise, AAHomecare and our state association partners have been working non-stop to maintain sustainable reimbursement rates and to educate state legislators, regulators and plan administrators on the value of HME to their constituents,”...
NRRTS seeks nominations
December 26, 2018HME News Staff
LUBBOCK, Texas - NRRTS is accepting nominations for the following awards: Leadership Award, Distinguished Service Award, Consumer Advocate of the Year and Simon Margolis Fellow. For requirements and to submit letters of nomination, email Weesie Walker, executive director of NRRTS, at wwalker@nrrts.org. Nominations must be received by midnight on Feb. 28. The winners of the awards will be presented at the 35th International Seating Symposium, March 18-22 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center...
New branches: Delta Medical, Phoenix Rehab & Mobility
December 26, 2018HME News Staff
Delta Medical has opened a branch in Harrison, Ark., according to the Harrison Daily Times. The company held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the branch with the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 18. The branch provides a variety of DME, plus an infusion pharmacy. Delta Medical was established in 2006, with the goal of serving patients in rural communities. It also has branches in Fayetteville (two branches), Batesville, Jonesboro, Rogers, Cave City, Fort Smith, Mountain Home and West Memphis…Phoenix...
WHILL debuts autonomous technology
December 26, 2018HME News Staff
SAN CAROLS, Calif. - WHILL, a manufacturer of personal electric vehicles (PEVs), will introduce and demonstrate the WHILL Autonomous Drive at the Consumer Electronics Show, Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas. “The WHILL Autonomous Drive PEV will be common in future public settings,” said Satoshi Sugie, co-founder and CEO of WHILL. “In the not-so-distant future, a user who has difficulty walking will merely 'summon' the vehicle. The technology will allow even first-time operators to experience...
In brief: Budget neutrality dampens certain rates, Brightree buys Apacheta
December 21, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Reimbursement rates for stationary and portable oxygen concentrators fare quite differently in the 2019 fee schedule, according to an analysis by AAHomecare.
The rural rate for stationary concentrators (E1390) will increase 10.9%, from $121.46 to $134.71, and the average regional rate will increase 4.4% from $69.31 to $72.32.
The rural rate for POCs (E1392) will decrease 5.2% from $46.77 to $44.32, and the average regional rate will decrease 6.5%, from $38.10 to $35.64.
Rates for...
Pro tips: How to work with state Medicaid programs
December 21, 2018Guest Commentary
Medicaid directors have a huge undertaking, ensuring their programs meet budgets, adhere to federal and state guidelines, and provide excellent patient outcomes. One of the rewarding aspects of my role at AAHomecare is that I have the opportunity to work with HME providers and industry stakeholders to educate them on how our services can help meet their overarching goal of providing excellent care to 73 million Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide.Access to care is an ongoing concern for all state Medicaid...
Ventec gears up
December 21, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor
BOTHELL, Wash. - With payment rules and rates finalized for multi-function vents, Ventec Life Systems, maker of the VOCSN, is ready to open the gates to new business on Jan. 1.CMS released a final rule in November that introduced a new code for multi-function vents, E0467, and outlined payment rules, including that a Medicare beneficiary who requires a vent and only one other therapy is eligible for a multi-function vent. “This is really important, as almost all vent patients need at least...
Paragon Ventures: 25 years of being 'eyes and ears' of providers
December 21, 2018Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
NEWTOWN, Pa. - When Paragon Ventures launched in 1994, competitive bidding wasn't even on the horizon. Today, it is the biggest driver of change in the HME industry.Through it all, the Newtown, Pa.-based mergers and acquisitions adviser, which is in its 25th year, has remained committed to the industry, says Marc Rose, president and managing partner.“It feels good to have made it this far and still feel as energetic and as excited as we are,” he said. “We are as passionate...
Business operations: List, prioritize, then engage
December 21, 2018Anne Orrick
A. Today, there is an urgency to improve patient collections. You have thoughtfully created your collection policy and procedures to meet your goals. Now what? Two keys to success that cannot be found in a written policy are: Your staff and culture.
Assume you have the best employees. Culture can be the X-Factor that accelerates collections. Culture is the beliefs, assumptions and attitudes that guide what's acceptable behavior and what's not. When you hear, “That's...