In brief: CGM supply billing, Mobility City expansion, Appoint360 milestone

WASHINGTON – CMS has published a change request directing the DME MACs to adjust their local edits to allow for 90-day billing for continuous glucose monitor supplies. 

Currently, providers must bill for CGM supplies every 30 days. 

The change, effective Jan. 1, 2024, will align CGM supplies with blood glucose monitor supplies. It will be implemented by the Fraud Prevention System and UPIC. 

CMS will provide educational content to suppliers in an MLN Connects newsletter.  
 
“The 30-day billing requirement for CGM supplies was a source of confusion for patients and an unnecessary paperwork burden on suppliers and DME MACs,” said Tom Ryan, AAHomecare president and CEO.  “I appreciate the persistent work of our Diabetes Council and Regulatory Council in making the case for this common-sense change with regulators. This is a big win for CGM suppliers and their patients.” 
 
AAHomecare’s Regulatory Council has been working on this issue for the past two years, and the Diabetes Council has made CGM billing a priority since its launch in 2022.  

NCPA names Theresa Tolle Pharmacist of the Year, 

ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Community Pharmacists Association and Upsher-Smith Laboratories have announced that Theresa Tolle, BSPharm, FAPhA, owner of Bay Street Pharmacy in Sebastian, Fla., is the winner of the 2023 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year award.  

Tolle, a second-generation owner and pharmacist, has led Bay Street Pharmacy alongside her husband, Joe, since 1999, offering a wide range of patient services, including immunizations and testing, diabetes education, compounding products, medication therapy management, and pharmacogenomics.  

“Theresa’s remarkable achievements exemplify the essence of independent pharmacy where pharmacists like Theresa make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and communities,” said Hugh Chancy, RPh, NCPA president. “Theresa’s commitment to patient care and professional excellence is a source of inspiration for pharmacists and makes her a deserving recipient of this year’s Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year Award.” 

Tolle was honored with the award Oct. 16 at NCPA’s Annual Convention in Orlando.  

Tolle has held leadership roles in the Florida Pharmacy Association, the American Pharmacists Association and the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN) Florida. Tolle actively participates in NCPA committees and plays a pivotal role in the development of clinically integrated networks for independent pharmacies, serving as the Lead Luminary of CPESN Florida. She actively contributes to numerous committees within CPESN USA, furthering the reach of independent pharmacy care.   

The annual award is given to a pharmacist who exhibits exemplary professional leadership, service to the community, and commitment to independent pharmacy. This year marks Upsher-Smith’s 15th year of sponsoring the award in conjunction with NCPA. The award is named in honor of Willard B. Simmons, a former executive secretary of NCPA (then known as the National Association of Retail Druggists) and a longtime trustee of the NCPA Foundation. 

Mobility City expands in Northeast  

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Mobility City Holdings is expanding operations in the Northeast. New franchise owner Max Orlov will focus on the New York City Metro area, opening a location in Hartsdale, N.Y., while new owner Avi Chandavarkar will focus on the Worcester, Mass., area with a location at Routes 9 & 20 in Northborough. These franchisees join Mobility City of King of Prussia, Pa., which is opening soon. "We are excited to bring our unique brand of mobility equipment repair, rental and sales to more residents in the Northeast," said Diane Baratta, CEO, Mobility City Holding. "With Max and Avi on board, we are confident that we can provide the same high level of service and support that people with mobility issues have come to expect from our brand." Mobility City franchisees offer repair, rental and sales of mobility equipment, including lift chairs, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, power chairs, walkers, hospital beds and more. Each location has a showroom with test track for customers to gain experience with a product before purchasing it, and technicians who make house calls in branded vans if customers can't make it into a store. 
 
NCPA installs new president  

ORLANDO, Fla. – Lea Wolsoncroft, RPh, of Birmingham, Ala., was installed as 2023-24 president of the National Community Pharmacists Association by its House of Delegates at the organization’s 2023 Annual Convention in Orlando. Wolsoncroft has been an NCPA member since 1991. She and her husband, Tom, opened their first pharmacy, KidsMeds, in 2002. She has always pursued nontraditional tracks and focused on educating physicians and the community about pharmacy practice and the unique role the profession plays in community wellness, with her newest adventure being Remedies Pharmacy, which opened in 2018. “In the ever-evolving landscape of health care, it’s easy for our patients to get lost in the maze of big corporations and chain stores, but I firmly believe that the heart and soul of our profession can be found right here in the independent pharmacies that dot our neighborhoods,” Wolsoncroft said in her remarks to the House of Delegates. “We are trusted health care providers, friends, and pillars of support for our patients. We know them by name, and we understand their health care needs. We are committed to their care, and for me, this is the foundation of our hope for our profession.” NCPA delegates also confirmed these independent community pharmacy owners for the board of directors: president, Wolsoncroft; president-elect, Jeff Harrell of Ilwaco, Wash.; chairwoman, Kristen Riddle of Conway, Ark.; board members: Jonathan Marquess of Woodstock, Ga., Steve Moore of Plattsburgh, N.Y., Dared Price of Winfield, Kan., Christian Tadrus of Moberly, Mo., Justin Wilson of Midwest City, Okla.; and immediate past President, Hugh Chancy of Hahira, Ga. 

Next Day Access opens first Alabama location 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Next Day Access is pleased to announce its new location in Birmingham, Ala., it’s first in the state. The Birmingham franchise is owned by Amy and Scott Riley. “We’re excited to open for business, so we can help the community by bringing the best accessibility solutions to those in need,” said Amy Riley, president of Next Day Access Birmingham. “We chose Next Day Access for a few reasons: They have the solutions to help people age in place, the business model, and expertise to ensure success in the business.” Amy Riley began her career working at a senior center and then moved into residential care for both assisted living facilities and independent living communities as an activities director. Next Day Access Birmingham will focus on providing accessibility and mobility solutions to individuals of all ages across the Greater Birmingham metro area and surrounding areas. They sell, deliver and install accessibility and mobility products, such as wheelchair ramps, stairlifts, grab bars, vehicle lifts and more. 

VGM publishes new playbook 

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM & Associates has released its final playbook of 2023, “VGM Playbook: Elevating Performance: Harnessing Human Capital.” Featuring insights from the perspective of various human capital experts, this resource contains valuable insights to enhance the understanding and implementation of human-centric strategies in the workplace. “Business leaders everywhere are trying to better understand the dynamic landscape of today's professional world and how to cultivate a thriving workplace culture, including DMEPOS businesses,” says Krista McNurlen, senior vice president, marketing. “This playbook offers guidance on how leaders can best nurture and develop their human capital in order to achieve sustained success and growth.” Areas of focus include enhancing workplace culture, developing new skills for a new generation, and building leaders for tomorrow. Members can download their copy at vgm.com/playbook or by logging in to the VGM members-only portal and downloading it from the Playbook tab. 

Medtrade adds to growing list of exhibitors 

DALLAS – Medtrade is continuing to sign up exhibitors – both first time and show veterans – for 2024, which takes place March 26-28 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. Recent sign-ups from North America include Blue Chip Medical, Beyond HME, ProLine Medical and Comfygo. Suffern, N.Y.-based Blue Chip Medical, which offers therapeutic mattresses, overlay and seating and positioning cushions, is a long-time supporter of Medtrade. President & Owner Ron Resnick’s message to attendees will be that the company doesn’t try to compete with inexpensive products, he says. “Blue Chip is in the ‘it’s gotta-work’ business,” he said. “I’m not in the price business. Price business is for all the other guys—the importers and Internet resellers.” Medtrade will also once again host numerous exhibitors from Taiwan and China. 

Telesair receives FDA clearance 

IRVINE, Calif. – Telesair has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance to market its Bonhawa High Flow Oxygen Therapy (HFOT) system, which is designed to treat patients with respiratory insufficiency. Bonhawa gives health care providers and their patients in the U.S. and worldwide an extended flow range, a streamlined disinfection process and an intuitive touchscreen. “The best-in-class Bonhawa system greatly improves patient care while enhancing efficiency for clinicians,” said Bryan Liu, PhD, CEO of Telesair. “It represents a significant milestone in that it is a more cost-effective, user-friendly option for treating respiratory conditions. Our team has decades of experience developing and commercializing revolutionary respiratory solutions and collaborated to create this efficient, easy-to-use system.” Telesair’s introduction of its lightweight oxygen therapy system to the U.S. further expands the company’s existing market access that includes Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.   

Appoint360 hits milestone 

BOSTON – Appoint360, a SaaS- based scheduling solution for home medical equipment, has reached a milestone of more than 10,000 appointments a month for providers. Appoint360, which is a Brightree Integrated Partner Solution, has a user-friendly interface and powerful features that have redefined the way appointments are managed, benefitting both providers and patients, it says. "We are immensely proud of reaching this significant milestone within just two years,” said Satish Patel, director, Medtech Solutions and Appoint360. “It highlights the dedication of our team and the confidence that our clients have in Appoint360 to revolutionize HME/DME appointments scheduling. We look forward to further innovation and supporting HME and DME providers in delivering exceptional scheduling services." Medical Services Company, which serves more than 175,000 patients annually, uses Appoint360 for CPAP onboarding, ventilation visits and oxygen checks. “Like many DMEs, we were struggling to efficiently manage clinician scheduling,” said Josh Marx, CEO. “Now, we’ve been using Appoint360 for a few years, and it’s a total game-changer. Over 30% of our appointments every day are scheduled by the patients themselves, and automated messaging keeps them up to date on where they are in the process.”