In brief: CMS clarifies, DeVilbiss expands, SeQual partners

WASHINGTON - CMS announced last week a one-time competitive bidding transition policy for providers supplying Group 3 single or multiple-power option power mobility devices to beneficiaries in 10 competitive bidding areas. Per the policy, CMS will pay both contract and non-contract providers who began furnishing services for these devices before July 1, 2008, but who do not deliver them until July 1, 2008, or later. The policy applies to claims for which the provider has a signed order from the physician that is dated between April 1, 2008, and May 31, 2008; and documentation that the face-to-face exam occurred before July 1, 2008. The agency will pay providers based on "the 2008 fee schedule amounts for furnishing these PMDs to beneficiaries residing in Round 1 CBAs." The policy applies to codes K0856 through K0864 and related accessories. DeVilbiss expands CPAP offering SOMERSET, Pa. - DeVilbiss Healthcare has signed an exclusive global distribution agreement with InnoMed Technologies and RespCare to sell the Hybrid, Bravo and Nasal-Aire line of CPAP interfaces, the manufacturer announced last week. "There is a natural synergy between the InnoMed/RespCare interfaces and our new IntelliPAP line of flow generators," stated DeVilbiss CEO and President Kees Regeling in a release. "Both product lines are truly innovative and ultimately focused on improving patient CPAP adherence." DeVilbiss plans to contact InnoMed/RespCare customers within the next few weeks to provide ordering information. The InnoMed/RespCare interface line also complements DeVilbiss' FlexAire, FlexSet and Serenity masks, DeVilbiss officials stated in a release. SeQual, Masimo Americas partner SAN DIEGO - SeQual Technologies has entered into a multi-year agreement with Masimo Americas in Irvine, Calif., giving SeQual non-exclusive distribution rights to Masimo's Signal Extraction Technology pulse oximeters, sensors and accessories. The Masimo product line complements SeQual's Eclipse and Integra lines of home oxygen products, SeQual officials said in a release. Sunrise celebrates with challenge LONGMONT, Colo. - As part of celebrating its 25th anniversary, Sunrise Medical challenged its associates to log 25 hours of volunteer activities the week of May 1. Nationwide, that represents more than 25,000 hours of volunteer activities or almost three years worth of time, stated Michael Cannizzaro, chairman, president and CEO. Activities included Hope for Humanity in Kansas and the "5K Walk, Run, Roll" in Colorado. Authorities snag Med-Pro in $5.4M fraud scheme MIAMI - Authorities recently arrested four individuals in connection with a $5.4 million DME fraud and money-laundering scheme, according to a release from the office of the U.S. District Attorney for the southern district of Florida. Leonardo Lozada, Eliades Diaz, Jimmy Soto and Jose Claro, all of Hialeah, Fla.-based Med-Pro, were charged with conspiring to defraud Medicare for providing DME items that were neither prescribed by doctors nor delivered to Medicare patients in 2005 and 2006. Diaz and Soto were also charged with illegally laundering fraud proceeds by cashing checks or withdrawing cash from Med-Pro's bank account. Authorities began investigating the provider after receiving several complaints from consumers. If convicted, the men face 10 years in prison for the fraud charges, and Diaz and Soto face an additional 20 years in prison for the money laundering charges.