Tag: California
California budget contains wins for HME
July 7, 2022HME News Staff
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California’s recently passed $308 billion budget includes several positive changes for home medical equipment.
Those changes:
It makes permanent the 100% of Medicare for all respiratory equipment and supplies that was established by the Department of Health and Children’s Services during the PHE;
Eliminates the 10% cut on all DME and CGMs; and
Eliminates the 10% cut for orthotic devices on July 1, 2022, or when federal approval...
Providers prep for increased power outages
October 4, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
REDDING, Calif. - With the fall wildfire season underway in California, HME providers are making sure their oxygen therapy patients are prepared to be without power more often.
For the first time, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and other electric companies say they plan to cut off power to certain areas when the fire risk is deemed high, generally due to high winds.
“SoCal has come out and said, 'If we have something that might stress the power lines, we are just...
NSM reaches statewide service in California
August 28, 2018HME News Staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - National Seating & Mobility is expanding in California with the acquisition of Tri County Mobility in Goleta. NSM now has 15 locations in California, positioning the national complex rehab provider to supply equipment and services statewide. “This acquisition strengthens our service capability in the central coast region of California,” said Bill Mixon, CEO. Tri County Mobility has been providing equipment and services in the Santa Barbara area for more than 30 years....
NSM strengthens presence in NorCal
May 10, 2018HME News Staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - National Seating & Mobility has acquired Western Rehab in California. The acquisition adds locations in Santa Rosa and Paradise/Chico to NSM's growing national network of locations. “Expanding our service reach in Northern California allows us to impact more lives with mobility solutions that drive independence,” said CEO Bill Mixon. Mark Hawkins, the former owner of Western Rehab, along with his field team, including three experienced ATPs, will stay on board to...
Apria letter spotlights grandfathering provision
August 18, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
LAKE FOREST, Calif. - Grandfathering under the competitive bidding program came up recently when Medicare beneficiaries in California received a letter from Apria Healthcare saying that, as of August, they must transition to a contracted provider.
While the letter raised questions about whether Apria was exiting the market, it is likely a routine communication alerting beneficiaries that their rental period is up, says Apria CEO Dan Starck.
“We haven't done anything to the nature...
California provider doubles in size
November 6, 2014HME News Staff
CARLSBAD, Calif. - Access Medical announced yesterday plans to expand services to the Bay area and desert communities with two new locations, in Burlingame and Palm Desert. Founded in 2006 by Blaine Hunt, Access Medical focuses on custom wheelchairs. Access Medical currently also has locations in Carlsbad and Anaheim.
Cuts force nat'l provider to stop accepting Medi-Cal
August 1, 2014Leah Hoenen
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California's 10% cut to Medicaid reimbursement is taking its toll: It has driven at least one complex rehab provider from the market and left California Children's Services (CCS), the state program for children with certain health problems, scrambling.
Numotion has stopped accepting Medi-Cal in what spokesman Justin Richardson calls a difficult decision.
“We fully understand the implications for our customers,” he said. “We will continue working...
Convaid wins civic engagement award
April 24, 2013HME News Staff
TORRANCE, Calif. - Convaid, a manufacturer of custom pediatric wheelchairs, was recently awarded the 2013 Long-Term Investor Award by the city of Torrance, Calif., according to a press release. The award recognized Convaid for its service and contributions to greater Los Angeles County, and for its innovative strategies and partnerships with the city. Through Convaid's community outreach program, the company has donated wheelchairs to individuals and families that could not get insurance or state...
California: Medi-Cal avoids cuts, but it's likely temporary
November 23, 2010Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A state budget hammered out in October didn't contain cuts to the DME benefit, but stakeholders know the relief could be short-lived.
The budget was signed into law Oct. 8, nearly four months into the state's fiscal year and about a month after the state's health care fund ran out of money, halting Medi-Cal payments to providers.
"It's an overly optimistic document that will not take us through the current fiscal year," said Bob Achermann, executive...
California
June 22, 2010Liz Beaulieu, Editor
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in May issued a revised state budget for 2010-2011 that proposes capping spending for DME to about $1,800 per Medi-Cal recipient per year.
The governor also proposes capping spending for supplies like wound care (about $400 per recipient per year), and eliminating reimbursement for enteral nutrition (unless a recipient is tube fed).
"Part of it is, they haven't been successful in cutting reimbursement rates, so they're getting desperate," said Bob...