Archive: September 2018
In brief: Senators circulate letter, Aeratech Medical named top provider
September 28, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - A Senate sign-on letter supporting additional relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program was released Sept. 28, a companion letter to one circulating in the House of Representatives, which had garnered 79 signatures at press time Friday.The Senate letter, spearheaded by Sens. John Thune, R-S.D, and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., urges CMS to increase reimbursement rates in bid areas until the next round of the program is implemented and extend 50/50 blended reimbursement rates to all...
Senators circulate bid relief letter
September 28, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - A Senate sign-on letter supporting additional relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program was released this morning, a companion letter to one circulating in the House of Representatives which has garnered 79 signatures so far.The Senate letter, spearheaded by Sens. John Thune, R-S.D, and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., urges CMS to increase reimbursement rates in bid areas until the next round of the program is implemented and extend 50/50 blended reimbursement rates to all non-bid areas...
Roche, pharmacies clash over 'unwarranted' rebates
September 28, 2018Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
INDIANAPOLIS - A judge has sided with Roche Diagnostics and issued a court order preventing a pharmacy network from dispensing Accu-Chek Test Strips, according to court documents.
The order, issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on Sept. 17, is in response to a lawsuit filed by Roche against Priority Healthcare Corp., a network of pharmacies in Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas.
In the lawsuit, filed Sept. 11, Roche says it paid $37.5 million of “unwarranted”...
Lifeway Mobility gets 'refresh'
September 28, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor
HARTFORD, Conn. - Lifeway Mobility may have a major investor now, but the accessibility solutions company plans to “remain local as we grow,” says President Paul Bergantino.Lifeway Mobility announced in late August that it had received a “major investment” from Rockwood Equity Partners, a Cleveland-based private equity firm that targets companies that generate $10 million to $75 million in revenues.“The market is extremely fragmented with many small independent providers...
Short takes: Somnoware, CareCentrix
September 28, 2018HME News Staff
Somnoware, a provider of digital health software, has joined CMS's electronic medical documentation program. The program expands the secure electronic exchange of health information in accordance with national standards. The Somnoware integration allows physicians to place an order for a PAP device, send relevant order details and medical information to DME companies, allow these companies to request additional documentation, and provide the ability to sign and date the document…CareCentrix, a...
e-prescribing may be at tipping point
September 28, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - There are a number of puzzle pieces locking together at CMS that could mean e-prescribing for DME becomes pervasive soon, the vendors of that technology say.
In July, the agency's Office of Grants Management disclosed that it had awarded a multi-million dollar contract to MITRE, a private nonprofit corporation that operates federally funded research and development centers or FFRDCs, to conduct a feasibility analysis on e-prescribing for DME.
“(MITRE) seems to be bullish,”...
Industry, CMS need to 'have conversation' about disaster relief
September 28, 2018Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - The havoc wrought by Hurricane Florence in September highlighted, once again, the need for policy changes in disaster situations, say HME stakeholders.
“What gets lost (is the need) to get better reimbursement to take care of people in devastated areas,” said Bill Guidetti, executive vice president, East Zone, Apria Healthcare. “There are a lot of hidden costs.”
Guidetti serves on an AAHomecare work group that was formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey,...
HME Woman of the year finalists announced
September 27, 2018HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - Four finalists have been selected for the 2018 HME Woman of the Year, VGM has announced.
The finalists, chosen from 39 nominations, are:
Karen Atkins, CEO and president, Mobility First;
Georgie Blackburn, vice president, government relations and legislative affairs, Blackburn's;
Colleen Hunter, CEO and president, Browning's Pharmacy and Health Care; and
Deanne Sandvold, vice president and owner, EZ-Access, a division of Homecare Products, Inc.
“These...
Friday deadline looms: Contact your rep, AAH says
September 26, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Forty members of the House of Representatives have so far agreed to add their names to a sign-on letter that makes the case for additional relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program, AAHomecare reports.The letter, spearheaded by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., pushes CMS to increase reimbursement rates in bid areas until the next round of the program is implemented and extend 50/50 blended reimbursement rates to all non-bid areas as part of its forthcoming final rule.“Please...
AEA Investors will be Numotion's new owner
September 26, 2018HME News Staff
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - Numotion has confirmed that AEA Investors, a New York-based middle market private equity firm, will be its new owner. The complex rehab provider confirmed to HME News last week that it had signed a definitive agreement with a new private equity sponsor, but it did not name the sponsor. Numotion has been backed by Audax Private Equity and LLR Partners for six years. The Numotion deal marks a return to healthcare investment for AEA Investors, according to PE Hub Healthcare. The firm...