In brief: Sign-on letter goes live, Medline partners with Microsoft, WOY award moves to Heartland
By HME News Staff
Updated 8:30 AM CDT, Fri October 18, 2024
WASHINGTON – Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa have released a sign-on letter in support of re-establishing the 75/25 Medicare blended reimbursement rate for DME in non-rural, non-competitive bid areas for 2025, AAHomecare has reported.
The association is asking stakeholders to reach out to their representative in the House of Representatives to ask them to join the sign-on letter. Stakeholders should direct Republican reps to contact Miller-Meeks' office and Democratic reps to contact Tonko’s office.
In discussing the need for relief with representatives, AAHomecare says stakeholders can refer to the following links showing the disconnect between Medicare rates and the rising costs suppliers face:
The letter, which will be sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, points out that CMS has taken action in the past to ensure access to DME, including applying the 50/50 blended rate for HME in rural areas on a permanent basis.
“DME suppliers and the patients they serve have faced higher delivery and labor costs due to inflation,” the letter states. “We are concerned that CMS, after pausing the competitive bidding program, has not updated payment rates and is still using 2016 pricing methodologies that do not account for today’s increased costs. This is compounded by the expiration of the 75/25 blended rate, which had provided stability by recognizing outdated bid pricing. The 75/25 blended rate policy ensured continued access to DME and related homecare services which are now threatened for millions of Americans. We understand that companies have had to lay off employees and consolidate offices, leaving patients with reduced access and longer wait times for vital care which is often delivered in the home.”
Industry-backed legislation, H.R. 5555 and S. 1294,would extend for an additional year blended rates that were first put into effect in March 2020 and subsequently extended through 2023 via an omnibus bill that passed through Congress in late December 2022.
Medline, Microsoft address ‘crisis of complexity’
NORTHFIELD, Ill., - Medline is joining forces with Microsoft to address the complex supply chain challenges facing today's health care professionals.
The two organizations are designing a health care supply chain resiliency solution built on Microsoft 365 and powered by Azure AI that is easy to navigate, predictive and secure. The solution will aim to leverage AI-generated insights to save time, headaches and hassle, while eliminating onerous technology implementation through integrated inventory management, they say.
"Health care today is dealing with a crisis of complexity, and Medline exists to make health care run better," said Jim Boyle, Medline CEO. "In Microsoft, we see a partner who can help us power better informed actions at a lower cost for our customers. This win-win will revolutionize the way we ensure a resilient health care supply chain."
The solution, called Mpower, will plan to tackle some of the toughest challenges in advancing the health care supply chain, including:
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Combining customer and supplier data to provide actionable, predictive recommendations for supply chain professionals. Powered by Microsoft Copilot and Azure AI, this predictive solution will be designed to include features that make current complicated inventory management workflows easier and empower users with proactive recommendations that they can choose to implement.
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Avoiding expensive, resource-heavy implementations for new technology platforms. Building the answer to these problems on the familiar, secure Microsoft 365 suite of applications will shorten ramp-up time considerably without the need for new, complicated tools or additional hires.
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Powering positive employee experiences. The planned solution will also target to help address the current talent pressures faced by health care organizations by making software more helpful, action-oriented and insightful.
The solution will pull upon Medline's data to empower better choices for patients—ultimately, freeing up valuable resources that can be redirected to patients in all points of care.
"The potential for AI to help alleviate the burden on health care professionals is immense, and together with Medline we're helping to address a unique piece of this puzzle – the health care supply chain," said Deb Cupp, president of Microsoft Americas. "By combining capabilities of our Copilot and AI offerings with Medline's proven expertise across supply chain resilience and clinical solutions, we will be able to significantly reduce complexity and give providers time back to focus on patient care."
NHIA urges more steps in addressing IV solution shortage
WASHINGTON – The National Home Infusion Association believes more needs to be done to minimize the impact on patient care and ensure equitable access to life-savings IV therapies after flooding halted production at the Baxter International plant in Marion, N.C. In a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, the association wrote: “As the leading voice for the home and alternate site infusion community, we write to share our concerns and offer recommendations for how HHS can support patients who depend on PN and other home infusion therapies. We understand that HHS is working with Baxter and other suppliers to address the current impacts to the intravenous (IV) fluid supply chain, and we appreciate the proactive communication provided by the Department on Friday, Oct. 4. Since that time, NHIA has developed conservation guidance for home infusion providers to implement immediately to minimize the impacts on Medicare beneficiaries and other patients.” NHIA has requested HHS declare a shortage of sterile IV solutions to allow 503B compounding facilities to fill gaps in the supply chain; fast-track approval of products approved in the EU; take steps to ensure allocations/distributions of IV fluids go to hospitals and pharmacies that use them for life-saving and medically necessary treatments; and temporarily suspend certain documentation requirements in the PN LCD to allow flexibilities in formulation.
- NHIA has also created a resource center for IV fluid shortages.
- Related: U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is also urging Becerra and administration officials to use all appropriate authorities to resolve the national shortage of IV solutions.
Permobil launches store, new products
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Permobil is launching the Permobil Store, a new web-based system that allows customers to configure, quote and order its two newest offerings: the TiLite X and Z. “Our goal with the TiLite X and Z was to deliver the quality, performance, durability and customizability of TiLite chairs to as many people as possible,” said Cody Verrett, VP and general manager of Permobil Americas. “We are proud to say we have delivered on that and are excited to expand TiLite to more users.” The new store features a real-time visualizer to see how each selection impacts the final look, dimensions, price and lead time of the products. The TiLite X is the company’s new folding frame design, while the TiLite Z is the new rigid mono-tube frame. Both have built-in adjustability for seat-to-floor height. The TiLite X and TiLite Z offer TiLite’s fastest turnaround time, from order to delivery, while also maintaining the durability and customizability TiLite manual wheelchairs are known for, the company says.
Parachute launches AI Intake solution
NEW YORK – Parachute Health has launched an AI Intake solution that enables medical equipment suppliers to automatically digitize paper-based DME orders received from clinicians so they can better verify that documentation is complete and better review qualification criteria. This workflow significantly reduces the time required to process fax/eFax orders and ensures suppliers are promptly paid for the life-saving products they provide to patients, the company says. "We set out to eliminate the need for a fax machine in DME ordering and we're well on the way to do that, but the reality is that the transition to digital ordering is still ongoing," said David Gelbard, CEO of Parachute Health. "We've been at this a long time and are excited to offer this new tool to our network of thousands of supplier locations and providers. Parachute Health now brings even more value to suppliers while also helping them progress along their digital transformation journeys." The new Parachute Health AI Intake solution leverages advanced large language models (LLMs) and natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to automatically digitize the language that appears on the paper-based DME orders into the comprehensive Parachute Platform to process orders quickly, while complying with HIPAA guidelines and strict data security policies. After paper orders are digitized, they are then automatically reviewed and analyzed based on Parachute Health's proprietary and real-time clinical intelligence database.
VGM to celebrate Woman of the Year at Heartland
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Group has announced that the ninth HME Woman of the Year Award celebration will be held during its Heartland Conference, June 9-11, 2025, in Waterloo, Iowa. “The HME Woman of the Year Award honors the incredible dedication and impact women have on this industry,” said VGM Group CEO Jeremy Stolz. “And Heartland is the perfect occasion to honor their achievements and contributions. I cannot wait to shine a light on these deserving leaders, and to celebrate them along with their peers from across the industry and the country.” Each year, VGM receives dozens of nominations for the award from across the nation. Nominees include providers, manufacturers, association executives and other professionals in the HME, rehab, respiratory and mastectomy industries. Past award winners include Dana McLaughlin of Medical Service Company and Sherry Krug from Binson’s Medical Equipment & Supplies. VGM Heartland Conference, now in its 24th year, offers two days of industry leading education, including CEUs, as well as opportunities to see the latest product innovations and network with peers.
Kris Srinivasan joins AAH board
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has announced that Kris Srinivasan, the chief strategy officer at Valere Health, has been selected to fill a vacated at-large seat on its board of directors in the 2023-26 class. Srinivasan has previously served on the association’s board, as well as the boards of various state and regional associations over the last eight years. “It is a privilege to continue to serve the HME industry as a member of the AAHomecare board of directors,” he said. “This group continues to evolve, innovate and demonstrate that rising tides raise all boats, and I am proud to be working alongside them once again. Valere Health shares in the collective mission of AAHomecare and the vision of the board of directors in delivering tangible and impactful value to the care continuum that the HME industry serves.” With more than 12 years of experience in clinical entrepreneurship and commercial optimization, Srinivasan has played a pivotal role in organizations like McKesson Medical Surgical, Fresnius Kidney Care and Syneos Health. In his new role at Valere Health, he will lead strategic initiatives and expand the company’s mission in bringing health care together through its interoperability ecosystem.
AAH comments on NIV NCA
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has submitted comments in response to the opening of a national coverage analysis for the use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the home for the treatment of chronic respiratory failure consequent to COPD. In its comments, the association strongly urged the agency to establish clear and subjective medical need criteria for coverage. “When medical professionals prescribe this therapy for their patients, it is important that the clinician community can provide objective medical record documentation that DME suppliers can rely upon to substantiate the individual’s medical need for the therapy,” AAHomecare stated in a bulletin. “Without coverage criteria clarity, prescribers will not be able to know whether Medicare will support coverage for the individual’s particular medical need, and DME suppliers will be financially liable in the event of later audits.”
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