Archive: March 2016
Cuts add up for Round 2 re-compete
March 31, 2016HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Reimbursement rates will decrease, on average, 7.1% when the Round 2 re-compete kicks off July 1, according to an analysis from AAHomecare.On average, providers will see a 6.2% reduction in the Midwest; 8% reduction in the Northeast; 5.9% reduction in the south; and an 8.8% reduction in the West as part of the Round 2 re-compete compared to the original Round 2.Of the product categories included in the Round 2 re-compete, support surfaces will see the largest cuts, ranging from 22.7%...
Lifeway Mobility taps Medforce Technologies
March 31, 2016HME News Staff
SUFFERN, N.Y. - Lifeway Mobility has selected Medforce Technologies' cloud-based CommandCenter business process management platform and ContentCenter document management system to run its operations. “The Medforce system allows us to connect to all of our vital documentation, forms and workflow activities right from the field and have instant data exchange with employees back at the office,” said Paul Bergantino, president of Lifeway Mobility, in a release. “It gives us the tools...
Oklahoma Medicaid announces 25% cuts
March 31, 2016HME News Staff
OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which oversees the state's Medicaid program, is cutting reimbursement rates for more than 46,000 providers by 25%, according to local news reports. Due to a roughly $1.3 billion hole in next year's state budget, state agencies are being directed to prepare for cuts of 15% or more to their budgets. The cuts, which will affect DME providers, hospitals, physicians, pharmacies and nursing facilities, are slated to take effect July 1. "This is a market-changing...
GF Health Products debuts new look
March 31, 2016HME News Staff
ATLANTA - GF Health Products has a new brand identity, the manufacturer has announced. The re-launch includes a new logo and a new mobile-responsive website featuring educational articles and resources.“Graham-Field's diverse business mix and ever-growing global reach demanded a fresh look at how the organization supports its markets,” said Lisa Wells, president of Get Social Consulting, who helped Graham-Field develop its new brand strategy. “Their new brand concept and resource...
CGS readies transition
March 30, 2016HME News Staff
NASHVILLE - CGS Administrators will take over the Jurisdiction B DME MAC contract July 5. The myCGS portal registration window for suppliers will open three weeks prior, and the process is expected to be a simplified, express registration to ease the transition, the agency said during a recent call. Jurisdiction B suppliers will receive a written invitation to pre-register. Any unfinished claims processing, appeals and other work will be officially transitioned from the previous contractor, National...
Are you beside yourself, too?
March 30, 2016Liz Beaulieu, Editor
I heard from a reader in the wake of CMS releasing the new payment amounts for the Round 2 re-compete.
The reader wondered if there was a Freedom of Information Act request that someone (anyone!) could file to find out who submitted low bids, whether or not they accepted them, and if they did, were they able to successfully serve patients at those amounts.
The reader wrote:
“I'm beside myself with the belief that other providers have bid even lower than the first time in Round 2. I cannot imagine...
McKesson joins forces with online provider
March 30, 2016HME News Staff
NEW YORK - McKesson has partnered with Shoplet to offer medical products online, the companies announced March 29. Shoplet, an online provider of office and cleaning supplies and furniture, entered the medical supplies market three years ago, according to a release. “This partnership is going to go a long way in providing more high-quality supplies to our customers,” said Tony Ellison, founder and CEO of Shoplet. “We are thrilled to work together.” Shoplet will offer DME,...
Untreated sleep apnea increases crash risk
March 30, 2016HME News Staff
MORRIS, Minn. - Commercial truck drivers with untreated obstructive sleep apnea crash five times more often than those without sleep apnea, according to a new study from the University of Minnesota.Drivers with OSA who somewhat or completely complied with their therapy had a crash rate similar to drivers without OSA, the study says.“The most surprising result of our study is the strength and robustness of the increase in the crash risk for drivers with sleep apnea who fail to adhere to mandated...
VGM has 'Big Ideas' for Heartland Conference
March 29, 2016HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - The VGM Group has released the educational lineup for the Heartland Conference, June 13-16. This year's event, themed “Ignite Ideas and Cultivate Connections,” organizes education into 16 categories, with more than 50 industry experts tackling topics ranging from billing and reimbursement to retail to accessibility to compliance. New this year: an education track to help generate and foster “Big Ideas.” The track, still in development, will include a creative...
bflow to host user conference
March 29, 2016HME News Staff
LOS ANGELES - bflow Solutions will host its first annual industry summit May 17 in Burbank, Calif. The event will bring together billing, compliance, accreditation, exemptee and managed care clients to learn how to optimize their businesses. Speakers will include Harlan Louie, sector chief, California Department of Public Health; Janelle Waynack of Instamed; and Abe Weinberger of WTI Outsourcing. The event is open to current bflow users, as well as those looking to test drive the solution. bflow...