Archive: September 2012
CMS scrutinizes diabetes bids
September 28, 2012Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine - When it comes to awarding contracts in the national mail order bid for diabetes supplies, CMS may be doing its homework this time around, industry stakeholders say.Several bidders last week received letters from the CBIC seeking further information on their bids."CMS took a lot of heat last time for awarding contracts to people that maybe weren't in the business or didn't have their cost structure available," said one national mail-order bidder who didn't want to be named. "I think...
How's the demo going?
September 28, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
I've been asking providers for three weeks now how the PMD demo is going. Also on the to-be-bothered list are the usual suspects in mobility - Simon Margolis of NRRTS, Don Clayback at NCART, Seth Johnson at Pride… I've even asked Walt Gorski at AAHomecare.
And, until this week, the story from providers and industry leaders was always the same: "It's too soon to tell."
One exception: Last week, we heard The Scooter Store testify at a congressional hearing that all of its prior authorization requests...
MPP call set for Monday
September 28, 2012HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare will hold a “Fight for Market Pricing” conference call Monday, Oct. 1, to stoke congressional support for a bill that would enact a market-pricing program (MPP) for HME. During the call, set for 2 p.m. EST, stakeholders will discuss strategies and tactics for building support for H.R. 6490, which was introduced in the House of Representatives on Sept. 21.
Industry leaders urge swift action
September 28, 2012Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - It's do or die; it's make or break; it's now or never. Any of these sayings aptly describe the recently introduced bill to replace competitive bidding with a market-pricing program (MPP), industry stakeholders say.“This is by far the best opportunity we've had and, in many ways, the last opportunity we'll have,” said Wayne Stanfield, president and CEO of NAIMES. “If we don't succeed, Round 2 will go forward and it will be too late for many, many providers.”Rep....
Bid deadline is here
September 28, 2012HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Today is the deadline for backup authorized official registration, CMS announced today. CMS strongly recommends that suppliers interested in participating in the Round 1 recompete who have not registered a backup authorized official do so today. A backup official can assume the role of the authorized official should the latter not be able to fill his or her responsibilities. To register, click on Round 1 recompete, then click on “registration is open” above the registration...
In brief: MPP calls set for this week, consumer groups confirmed for Medtrade
September 28, 2012HME News Staff
In brief: MPP calls set for this week, consumer groups confirmed for MedtradeWASHINGTON - AAHomecare will hold a “Fight for Market Pricing” conference call Monday, Oct. 1, to stoke congressional support for a bill that would enact a market-pricing program (MPP) for HME. During the call, set for 2 p.m. EST, stakeholders will discuss strategies and tactics for building support for H.R. 6490, which was introduced in the House of Representatives on Sept. 21. The next day, on Oct. 2 at 1:30...
PMD demo: 'We have begun'
September 28, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
WASHINGTON - CMS officials didn't have much new to share during the Sept. 26 Open Door Forum on the PMD demonstration project, but industry stakeholders had more than a few questions.CMS's only real update: "We have begun," said Melanie Combs Dyer, deputy director of CMS's Provider Compliance Group. "We are beginning to receive prior authorization requests at the DME MACs and we're very excited that we have gotten to this point."As part of the three-year demo, providers in seven states began to submit...
Are docs trying to creep into CPAP biz?
September 28, 2012Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
DARIEN, Ill. - The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) thinks sleep physicians should be able to provide CPAP devices and other sleep therapy to Medicare beneficiaries.
The association, which wants to create a "safe harbor" that will allow board-certified sleep medicine physicians to perform and interpret sleep tests, provide CPAP devices and track outcomes, recently sent a letter to its members seeking donations to its political action committee. The money will be used to support lawmakers...
1st Class Medical acquires new facility
September 27, 2012HME News Staff
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - 1st Class Medical, a distributor of portable oxygen concentrators and home oxygen machines, is acquiring a new facility in Denver, according to a press release. The facility will expand the company's warehouse space and provide additional workspace for their service and repair teams and marketing department. As 1st Class Medical's number of products continues to expand and certain units remain on the market longer, the added warehouse space became a necessity, the company...
Survey: Local pharmacy outshines mail order
September 27, 2012HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Mail-order pharmacies continue to get lower marks in customer satisfaction, according to a survey released today.On a scale of 1,000, overall satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies averages 792, compared to 814 for brick-and-mortar pharmacies, states J.D Power and Associates in a press release. That's down 14 points from 2011.Customer satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies is measured by four factors: cost competitiveness, prescription delivery, prescription ordering, and customer...