Archive: January 2023
U.S. Rehab’s Mahncke looks to ‘fill the gaps’
January 31, 2023Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WATERLOO, Iowa – Tyler Mahncke says his focus as the new vice president of U.S. Rehab has been on “building out solutions” for the organization’s provider members.
Organizations like U.S. Rehab, a part of VGM & Associates, are now about more than negotiating manufacturer pricing for providers, he points out.
“What I’m really trying to do is listen to the needs of our members and building out services around those needs, based on what’s going...
ISS ‘gets back to normal’
January 31, 2023Liz Beaulieu, Editor
PITTSBURGH – Hybrid events are increasingly more common, but the 38th International Seating Symposium will take place exclusively in-person on April 13-15 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
“We’re focusing on making this a really good in-person event,” said Mark Schmeler, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, associate professor and vice chair for educating and training in the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. “We’re...
Respiratory market emerges from ‘whiplash’
January 31, 2023John Andrews
The respiratory market has undergone a series of shifts over the past two-and-a-half years, due to the pandemic and other issues, like supply chain disruptions. But now it appears that external forces have waned, creating a more stable environment for providers, respiratory manufacturers say.
Jim Worrell, chief commercial officer for Pinellas Park, Fla.-based Quality Biomedical, called the past couple of years “a roller coaster ride” as the industry continues to emerge...
PHE will end in May
January 31, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden has announced that the public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023.
Under the last declaration in January, the PHE was set to end on April 11.
“The advance notice goes beyond HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s previous guidance to health care stakeholders that the agency would provide at least 60 days advance notice before ending the PHE,” AAHomecare noted in a bulletin.
Knowing when the PHE will end gives industry...
CMS set to expand Medicare Advantage audits
January 31, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – CMS has published a final rule in the Federal Register that codifies in regulation that, as part of the Medicare Advantage Risk Adjustment Data Validation (RADV) program, the agency will extrapolate audit findings beginning with payment year 2018.
“Protecting Medicare is one of my highest responsibilities as secretary, and this commonsense rule is a critical accountability measure that strengthens the Medicare Advantage program,” said Xavier Becerra, secretary...
VGM names retail director
January 31, 2023HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – Tim VanAntwerp, formerly of Van’s Medical Equipment, has joined VGM & Associates as director of retail services. He’s tasked with assisting VGM members with meeting their revenue goals through retail sales. “At VGM, we strive to help our members thrive in the DMEPOS industry, and Tim will be a major asset to our members looking to explore the retail side of the business,” said Mike Isaacson, senior vice president of operations for VGM & Associates....
NHIA to payers: Establish distinct specialty networks
January 31, 2023HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) has developed recommendations for commercial, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage payers to reduce administrative burdens and remove barriers to accessing certain infusion services. Among NHIA’s eight recommendations, the association encourages payers to establish distinct specialty networks of locally based, full-service infusion providers to offer infused and HCP-administered medications, which will reduce delays in treatment, improve...
NCPA supports new bills
January 30, 2023HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association supports two pieces of legislation re-introduced in the Senate that seek to bring transparency to pharmacy benefit managers. Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, have reintroduced:
The PBM Transparency Act (S. 127) would provide plan sponsors/employers transparency on how PBMs administer their pharmacy benefit and clarifies the Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement authority to prohibit...
CMS announces PECOS redesign
January 30, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – CMS has announced that submitting and tracking Medicare enrollment applications in PECOS will soon get easier and faster. Starting this summer, the agency says PECOS will feature:
A single application for multiple enrollments
Pre-population of data and an application that’s tailored to you
Enhanced capability to add or delete group members
Real-time processing checks and status updates
Re-validation reminders
The...
U.S. Rehab partners with Nymbl
January 30, 2023HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – U.S. Rehab, a division of VGM & Associates, has announced a partnership with Nymbl Systems, a multipurpose, 100% cloud-based practice management software. “U.S. Rehab has worked closely with Nymbl Systems over the last several months to build out the most intuitive, accurate and error-proof billing software in the complex rehab technology marketplace and we couldn’t be more excited about bringing this solution to our members across the U.S.,” said Tyler Mahncke,...