Archive: August 2020
'Life has changed' for HME providers
August 28, 2020Liz Beaulieu, Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine - What's it like to be an HME provider in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic? It runs the gamut from watching your business dry up, to feeling like the mask police to not being able to hug your mom.
“Life has changed,” wrote Richard Burks in Kansas in response to a recent HME Newspoll.
Business fluctuations
While providers report increases in referrals for home oxygen therapy, one of the front-line therapies for COVID-19, referrals for most...
NCPA opens registration for virtual convention
August 28, 2020HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Registration is now open for the National Community Pharmacists Association 2020 Annual Convention, held virtually Oct. 18-19. The event features education for pharmacy teams inspired by pharmacy owners, a one-stop exhibition for products and services, speakers and networking opportunities. “This will be the most convenient, most affordable NCPA Convention we've ever had,” said NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist, MBA. “If you were unable to attend in previous...
Rehab roundup: Data gathering and advocating
August 28, 2020Liz Beaulieu, Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine - The new CRT Remote Services Consortium has launched two surveys - one for clinicians, and one for suppliers and manufacturers - to collect information about how they're using telehealth and remote services, respectively. The consortium also seeks to collect information on what are the opportunities and challenges around these services, and how they should be used in the future. “The information will give us some good data - also some commentary - that we can include as we...
NCPA urges investigation of longstanding mail-order issues
August 28, 2020HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association is urging the House Ways and Means Committee to broaden its investigation into potential delivery delays for mail-order medications due to changes at the U.S. Postal Service to include long-term problems with mail-order prescription plans. The NCPA has long said mail order has led to damaged or missing medications in some cases, expensive medication waste in others, conflicts of interest, and decreased patient choice and access to reliable...
OIG calls on CMS to improve consistency in reviews
August 28, 2020HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Medicare contractors were inconsistent in how they reviewed overpayments during the appeals process, says the Office of Inspector General in a new report.
Although MACs and QICs generally reviewed appealed extrapolated overpayments in a manner that conforms with existing requirements, CMS did not always provide sufficient guidance and oversight to ensure that these reviews were performed in a consistent manner, the report states.
The most significant inconsistency involved...
Oswald's Pharmacy pivots with testing and more
August 28, 2020Tracy Orzel
NAPERVILLE, Ill. - They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but Oswald's Pharmacy has been learning new ones since 1875. Its newest trick? Covid-19 antibody testing.
“I think what's exciting about it is we're able to turn on a dime and try something new because we're just a single independent pharmacy and I think it's an added benefit to the community,” said Alex Anderson, general manager and 6th generation family member. “Even people who...
Post office troubles concern providers
August 28, 2020Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine - A perfect storm of delays at the U.S. Postal Service combined with an increase in demand for mail-order supplies due to the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for providers.
For Doral, Fla.-based US Med, the biggest issue is that Medicare requires beneficiaries to refill their prescriptions within a certain timeframe, says Mary Ellen Conway, chief compliance officer.
“It's a very short window for refills of diabetes testing supplies, and there...
VMI modifies van for Health Care Hero
August 28, 2020HME News Staff
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Chrysler and ABC's “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” surprised Massachusetts nurse Florence Njoroge with a brand new 2020 Chrysler Pacifica that was modified for wheelchair access by Vantage Mobility International. The acknowledgement of the donation took place during Kimmel's weekly Health Care Hero segment, which pays tribute to those on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. “We at VMI understand how important it is for families to have a safe and reliable vehicle...
Medtrade West seeks proposals
August 28, 2020HME News Staff
PHOENIX - Medtrade West is calling for presentations. Sessions for the event, which takes place April 12-14 at the Phoenix Convention Center, cover a wide range of topics, including legal, retail, business operations, executive leadership and planning, Medicare updates, and sales and marketing. People interested in submitting a proposal are encouraged to form a panel of three or more to present. Proposals are due Sept. 18 and may be submitted here.
F&P launches mask setup app
August 28, 2020HME News Staff
IRVINE, Calif. - Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has launched the F&P myMask, an app to guide obstructive sleep apnea patients who are new to CPAP therapy through the mask setup process. Step-by-step videos guide patients through mask fitting, fine-tuning, cleaning and assembly, offering easy access to instructions and support, and complementing the care of the health care provider. The F&P myMask app is now available in the USA on iOS and Android devices with the following masks: Evora, Vitera, Simplus,...