Archive: September 2017
Urgency peaks for bid relief
September 29, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - A sign-on letter that quickly collected 104 signatures last week buoyed spirits, but there's still no clear indication of when the industry will see the release of an interim final rule related to the competitive bidding program.“We are still expecting that any day, any hour,” said Cara Bachenheimer, senior vice president of government relations for Invacare.The letter, spearheaded by Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, R-Wash., asks the Office of Management and Budget to move on the...
Stakeholders wage protracted battle with other payers
September 29, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine - A recent decision by the Washington, D.C., Medicaid program to raise reimbursement for competitive bid items was a win, but stakeholders say it's a constant battle to keep payers from lowering payments in the first place.“We are continuing to see the different payers, whether that be state Medicaid programs (or others), adopt Medicare rates or a discount below Medicare rates,” said Laura Williard, vice president of payer relations for AAHomecare. “In some cases,...
Tom Price is out at HHS
September 29, 2017HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price, a long-time champion of the HME industry, will resign effective 11:59 p.m. today, Friday, Sept. 29.
The resignation comes amidst growing criticism of Price's use of charter flights instead of commercial flights to travel to government engagements. Politico, which broke the story of Price's costly travel, estimated that the price tag for these trips was more than $400,000.
On Thursday, Price announced that he would reimburse...
Update in Texas: Nerves rattled as contract's start date approached
September 29, 2017Liz Beaulieu, Editor
AUSTIN, Texas - The state Medicaid program may have forced Superior HealthPlan to modify its contract with Medline for DME and supplies, but providers say, in reality, they fear not much has changed.
During a hearing in August that prompted the modifications, provider Barry Johnson says the state and Superior HealthPlan agreed that Medicaid recipients would be able to opt out of the contract with a simple phone call to the managed care organization.
“They're being told they have to...
Short take: Medical Service Company
September 29, 2017HME News Staff
Medical Service Company was recognized as a Top Workplace in Northeast Ohio. The Cleveland-based provider was honored for its employee-centric culture. It's the sixth time the company has been recognized.
NRRTS spreads the word
September 29, 2017Liz Beaulieu, Editor
ATLANTA - When the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine holds its annual event here later this month, NRRTS will be on hand to raise awareness of the CRTS and RRTS community and the issues affecting them.The ACRM serves a global community of researchers and clinicians who deliver evidence-based rehabilitation interventions to people with disabling conditions, such as spinal cord injury.“To accomplish what we want to accomplish in Congress, it's going to take involvement from all around,”...
VirtuOx makes buy, plans more
September 29, 2017HME News Staff
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - VirtuOx, a healthcare IT company providing diagnostic tools and services focused on sleep and respiratorydisease states, has acquired ProFox Associates and NPF, it announced Sept. 28. ProFox and NPF both offer oximetry software and technology. “This is the first of many acquisitions for us,” said Steven Lica, CEO of VirtuOx. “Our ability to create interoperability among multiple platforms will continue to drive us toward increased innovation with a goal of...
Senators introduce sleep testing bill
September 29, 2017HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - A bill that seeks to require the Secretary of Transportation to implement a rule to test and treat commercial transportation workers for sleep apnea was introduced Sept. 28.
The bill, S. 1883, is sponsored by Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and co-sponsored by Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
In August, the same group of senators sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation asking why the Federal Railroad Administration...
In brief: Consumers support accessories bill, VirtuOx makes buy
September 29, 2017HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The ITEM Coalition and 32 national consumer and clinical organizations have sent a letter to leaders in the House of Representatives, asking them to pass a bill that would halt competitive bidding-related prices for accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs.
“We are writing to express our strong support for this new legislation and to emphasize the importance of protecting patient access not just to accessories used with complex rehab power wheelchairs, but also to those...
VGM tops best workplaces
September 28, 2017HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - VGM Group has been named Iowa's Top Workplace for large employers, the member association announced Sept. 25. “This is a great honor for our company to be ranked as the Top Workplace in Iowa,” said CEO Mike Mallaro. “VGM is a family and being an extraordinary place to work is one of our important aspirations. Our unique culture helps our people serve customers with tremendous dedication and commitment.” Approximately 300 businesses participated in the...