In brief: Register now for PAOC meeting, Invacare named in lawsuit

BALTIMORE - Registration is now open for the March 17 Program Advisory and Oversight Committee (PAOC) meeting on national competitive bidding. To register, go to www.blsmeetings.net/paoc2010/. Registrations must be received no later than 5 p.m. EST on March 12. The meeting will take place at CMS's offices at 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore. For more information, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/.



DME MAC reports 85% error rate on oxygen claims

FARGO, N.D. - The Jurisdiction D DME MAC conducted a prepayment review of claims for codes E1390 and E0431 and found an overall error rate of 85%, according to a bulletin released last week. Noridian Administrative Services reviewed 102 claims and denied 86 claims. The top four reasons for denials: no office visit notes to determine medical necessity within 30 days of certification or 90 days within recertification were submitted (39 claims); no response to medical records requests (33); no qualifying blood gas study submitted (30); and invalid CMN (13). To read the bulletin, go to https://www.noridianmedicare.com/lsredir.php?id=EkyZEEkVVkeyuYRMrN&tmpl=dme_viewnews&style=part_ab_viewnews.



NCART: Don't miss Webinar

BUFFALO, N.Y. - NCART sent out a reminder last week that it will hold two Webinars Thursday, March 4, to review a 25-page "discussion paper" that details a new benefit for complex rehab. There is no charge for the Webinars but advanced registration is required. Register for 8:30 a.m. EST at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/364894402 or 5 p.m. EST at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/423449202.



Invacare named in lawsuit

BASTROP, La. - The son of Merrimac Ellis, an 87-year-old woman who burned to death last year in an Invacare wheelchair, filed a lawsuit against the Elyria, Ohio-based manufacturer on Feb. 11, Crains Cleveland Business reported last week. The suit, filed in the Fourth Judicial District Court here, also names the senior citizens apartment where Ellis lived and the manufacturer of the apartment's sprinkler system, which failed to turn on. Invacare's Lara Mahoney told Crains: "We stand very fully behind the safety of our products." Invacare recalled 215,000 power wheelchairs and added safety features to prevent fires in 2000, and those features were present in Ellis's wheelchair, a Pronto M51 built in 2002, Mahoney said.



Premier readies for media campaign

WINTER PARK, Fla. - Premier Care in Bathing has hired Kre8Media to handle all North American print and television advertising, the companies announced Feb. 22. The $20 million advertising campaign includes a company re-branding effort. Premier Care was established in 1985 and offers a variety of walk-in bathing options for people with limited mobility.