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Archive: January 2023


Tyler Mahncke

Mobility

U.S. Rehab’s Mahncke looks to ‘fill the gaps’

January 31, 2023Liz Beaulieu, Editor

WATERLOO, Iowa – Tyler Mahncke says his focus as the new vice president of U.S. Rehab has been on “building out solutions” for the organization’s provider members.  Organizations like U.S. Rehab, a part of VGM & Associates, are now about more than negotiating manufacturer pricing for providers, he points out.  “What I’m really trying to do is listen to the needs of our members and building out services around those needs, based on what’s going...

Tyler Mahncke, U.S. Rehab


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Mobility

ISS ‘gets back to normal’

January 31, 2023Liz Beaulieu, Editor

PITTSBURGH – Hybrid events are increasingly more common, but the 38th International Seating Symposium will take place exclusively in-person on April 13-15 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.  “We’re focusing on making this a really good in-person event,” said Mark Schmeler, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, associate professor and vice chair for educating and training in the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. “We’re...

Complex Rehab, International Seating Symposium (ISS), ISS, Mark Schmeler


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Business Development

Respiratory market emerges from ‘whiplash’

January 31, 2023John Andrews

 The respiratory market has undergone a series of shifts over the past two-and-a-half years, due to the pandemic and other issues, like supply chain disruptions. But now it appears that external forces have waned, creating a more stable environment for providers, respiratory manufacturers say.  Jim Worrell, chief commercial officer for Pinellas Park, Fla.-based Quality Biomedical, called the past couple of years “a roller coaster ride” as the industry continues to emerge...

CAIRE, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, Home Oxygen, Home respiratory therapy, Joe Lewarski, Quality Biomedical


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News

PHE will end in May 

January 31, 2023HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden has announced that the public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023.  Under the last declaration in January, the PHE was set to end on April 11.  “The advance notice goes beyond HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s previous guidance to health care stakeholders that the agency would provide at least 60 days advance notice before ending the PHE,” AAHomecare noted in a bulletin.  Knowing when the PHE will end gives industry...

Public Health Emergency


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News

CMS set to expand Medicare Advantage audits 

January 31, 2023HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – CMS has published a final rule in the Federal Register that codifies in regulation that, as part of the Medicare Advantage Risk Adjustment Data Validation (RADV) program, the agency will extrapolate audit findings beginning with payment year 2018.  “Protecting Medicare is one of my highest responsibilities as secretary, and this commonsense rule is a critical accountability measure that strengthens the Medicare Advantage program,” said Xavier Becerra, secretary...

Medicare Advantage


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Also Noted

VGM names retail director 

January 31, 2023HME News Staff

WATERLOO, Iowa – Tim VanAntwerp, formerly of Van’s Medical Equipment, has joined VGM & Associates as director of retail services. He’s tasked with assisting VGM members with meeting their revenue goals through retail sales. “At VGM, we strive to help our members thrive in the DMEPOS industry, and Tim will be a major asset to our members looking to explore the retail side of the business,” said Mike Isaacson, senior vice president of operations for VGM & Associates....

retail sales, Tim VanAntwerp, VGM & Associates


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Also Noted

NHIA to payers: Establish distinct specialty networks 

January 31, 2023HME News Staff

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) has developed recommendations for commercial, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage payers to reduce administrative burdens and remove barriers to accessing certain infusion services. Among NHIA’s eight recommendations, the association encourages payers to establish distinct specialty networks of locally based, full-service infusion providers to offer infused and HCP-administered medications, which will reduce delays in treatment, improve...

Home Infusion, National Home Infusion Association (NHIA)


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Also Noted

NCPA supports new bills 

January 30, 2023HME News Staff

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association supports two pieces of legislation re-introduced in the Senate that seek to bring transparency to pharmacy benefit managers. Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, have reintroduced:  The PBM Transparency Act (S. 127) would provide plan sponsors/employers transparency on how PBMs administer their pharmacy benefit and clarifies the Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement authority to prohibit...

National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)


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Also Noted

CMS announces PECOS redesign 

January 30, 2023HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – CMS has announced that submitting and tracking Medicare enrollment applications in PECOS will soon get easier and faster. Starting this summer, the agency says PECOS will feature:  A single application for multiple enrollments  Pre-population of data and an application that’s tailored to you  Enhanced capability to add or delete group members  Real-time processing checks and status updates  Re-validation reminders  The...

Medicare, PECOS


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Also Noted

U.S. Rehab partners with Nymbl 

January 30, 2023HME News Staff

WATERLOO, Iowa – U.S. Rehab, a division of VGM & Associates, has announced a partnership with Nymbl Systems, a multipurpose, 100% cloud-based practice management software. “U.S. Rehab has worked closely with Nymbl Systems over the last several months to build out the most intuitive, accurate and error-proof billing software in the complex rehab technology marketplace and we couldn’t be more excited about bringing this solution to our members across the U.S.,” said Tyler Mahncke,...

Nymbl Systems, U.S. Rehab


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