Tag: Cost
Updated cost study addresses pressure sores, incontinence, diabetes
July 21, 2022HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – For every $1 CMS invests in DME and supplies to prevent pressure sores, it will see a return of $38.54 in reduced or avoided treatment costs, according to an updated study from VGM Government Relations and Leitten Consulting.
DME and supplies to prevent pressure sores was one of three new categories included in the study. The others: catheters and related urological supplies, and diabetic test strips and monitors.
“As CMS forced prices down and treatment...
Survey: Cost of doing business puts pressure on providers
May 12, 2022HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – The cost of delivering home medical equipment continues to rise, according to the results of a new survey from VGM & Associates.
The survey of nearly 100 HME providers in eight regions of the U.S. looked at the increase in cost of goods, employee wages and freight, as well as cost of delivery per mile, PPE and average wages.
“While I suspected the various costs and related factors in securing appropriate HME delivery services would increase –...
VGM: Delivery costs increase
March 10, 2021HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – The cost of delivering home medical equipment has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of new survey from VGM.
The survey of nearly 100 medical equipment providers in eight regions of the U.S. looked at vehicle cost per trip; PPE expense; labor expense per hour; and time of travel, equipment set-up and instruction, and equipment pickup.
In the Great Lakes region, for example, the average delivery...
New law caps insulin co-pays at $100
May 28, 2019HME News Staff
DENVER - Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has signed a new law that caps co-payments for prescription insulin to $100 a month for insured patients, regardless of the amount or type of drug needed. The law also directs the state's attorney general to investigate pricing of insulin drugs and determine whether or not additional consumer protections are needed. Colorado is the first state to enact such a law, according to news reports. Almost 20,000 Coloradans are diagnosed with diabetes each year and as of...
VGM tallies costs by region
August 7, 2018HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - The VGM Group has released the results of a “Delivery Cost Survey” that puts into perspective how costly it is for HME providers to provide patients with the necessary equipment.
In New England, for example, providers report that it costs them $22.43 in vehicle costs per delivery and $18 in labor costs per hour, according to the survey. When you take into account the 23.33 miles from business to home and the 31.67 minutes it takes for in-home set up, that's an...
Delivery system in jeopardy, new white paper shows
August 15, 2017HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - U.S. Rehab, a division of the VGM Group, has released a white paper analyzing the current state of the DME industry. The paper, “The Delivery of DMEPOS is in Jeopardy,” provides a data-driven perspective on the adverse effects of competitive bidding on both patients and providers of DME, complex rehab and O&P. “If the current issues with reimbursement are not addressed, irreparable harm will be done to this delivery system,” said Greg Packer, president of...
Reimbursement doesn't cover costs, study says
October 20, 2016HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Medicare reimbursement rates cover, on average, only 88% of overall costs for companies providing HME products and services, according to a new study released yesterday by AAHomecare.
The study, “Analysis of the Cost of Providing Durable Medical Equipment to the Medicare Population: Measuring the Impact of Competitive Bidding,” was conducted by Dobson DaVanzo & Associates and raises serious concerns about the current Medicare payment model, researchers say.
“The...
Cost study now open: AAH calls for all hands on deck
July 21, 2016HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare is asking all HME providers to submit data for the DME Industry Cost Analysis Study to help support legislation. Conducted by Dobson DaVanzo & Associatates, the study focuses on oxygen therapy equipment, sleep therapy devices, manual wheelchairs, hospital beds and walkers. “The more surveys completed, the stronger the data will be when presented to members of Congress this fall,” AAHomecare stated in an update. “The results will also be available...
Short takes from AAHomecare
July 14, 2016HME News Staff
Healthcare consulting firm Dobson DaVanzo & Associates will open the DME Industry Cost Analysis Study the week of July 18. The study, sponsored by AAHomecare, will look at the cost of providing HME in multiple product categories under threat by competitive bidding. There is no fee to participate and the data submitted is kept confidential…Providers can submit their second quarter audit data to the HME Audit Key starting July 15. The HME Audit Key requires providers to submit cumulative counts...
AAHomecare commissions cost analysis study
July 7, 2016HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare has commissioned Dobson DaVanzo & Associates to conduct a study of provider's fixed and variable costs for providing DME. The study will focus on respiratory products, wheelchairs, hospital beds and walkers. While previous cost studies have been conducted, this will be the first to consider categories under threat by competitive bidding. AAHomecare encourages all providers to participate in the survey, which will later be analyzed and shared with policymakers. “This...