DME MACs issue re-supply guidance

BALTIMORE - As promised, the four CMS medical directors have released an FAQ on re-supplies. CMS announced in a June bulletin that items that need periodic replacement, like CPAP supplies, must be non-functioning. That led to numerous questions from providers about the policy and how to comply with it. The 15-question document attempts to explain the policy and answer questions like why the documentation guidelines are so vague (to give suppliers discretion) and what “non-functional” means (the item is no longer able to be used safely or effectively).

AAH comments on re-supply, IR

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - CMS's new rule requiring providers to determine whether non-consumable supplies are non-functional before they can replace them is “arbitrary, vague and unworkable,” AAHomecare stated in comments submitted to CMS Aug. 10. The association also pointed out that the rule is inconsistent with existing Medicare guidelines for supply refills and that CMS already has rules that prohibit auto-shipments of refills. AAHomecare also expressed concerns with CMS's proposal to lower reimbursement rates for retail diabetes. CMS risks hurting beneficiary access to the supplies, the association stated. AAHomecare asked CMS to ensure transparency for using inherent reasonableness.

Liberator: Revenues continue to rise

STUART, Fla. - Mail-order provider Liberator Medical reported a 12.3% increase in revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. Revenues were $15 million, compared to $13.3 million for the same period in 2011. Sales for the nine months ended June 30, 2012, increased by 16.3% to $44.4 million. The company reported current assets of $17.8 million and current liabilities of $6.5 million.

Short takes

National Sleep Therapy in August acquired Rest Ensured Medical. The deal kicks off a “growth phase” for the four-year-old company, which is based in Concord, N.H....Catheter provider UroMed and healthcare publisher Dorland Health received an Apex Award for publication excellence for their continuing education program on urology health, the Suwannee, Ga.-based UroMed announced in August. The Apex Awards competition drew 3,400 entries in 11 categories…Active Healthcare/IntegraSleep announced in August that it has been named as one of Business Leader magazine's Top 300 Small Businesses of the Southeast. The CPAP and diagnostics provider ranked No. 4 in the Triangle and No. 28 in the Southeast.