In brief: Industry continues fight, Sunrise says goodbye

HOUSTON - Providers in Texas last week had meetings with the staff of six U.S. representatives to boost the number of co-sponsors for H.R. 3790, a bill to repeal national competitive bidding. A group of 11 met with Reps. John Culberson, Al Green, Gene Green, Kevin Brady, Michael McCaul and Pete Olsen, according to a release from the Texas Alliance of Home Care Services (TAHCS). Currently, there are 185 co-sponsors for the bill. The Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of America (AMEA) coordinated the "in-district" day; it has coordinated similar events in California and Illinois.



Sunrise says goodbye to DeVilbiss

LONGMONT, Co. - Nearly three years after Sunrise Medical divided itself into two independent business units--Sunrise Medical (rehab) and DeVilbiss Healthcare (respiratory)--those two units have separated into independent companies. The move coincides with Sunrise refinancing a credit facility, according to a press release last week. The credit facility allows Sunrise to "pursue acquisitions in both Europe and North America," Sunrise CEO Thomas Rossnagel stated in the release. It also allows DeVilbiss to "stand alone as its own entity with no debt and separate long-term financing," he added.



CMS schedules Open Door, RAC calls

BALTIMORE - CMS will hold its next Open Door Forum for DME April 14 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. To participate, dial 800-837-1935 and use the ID 61772075. The agency will also hold a call on its Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program for home health and hospice providers on May 4 at 2:30 p.m. EST. To participate, dial 877-251-0301.



Sleep apnea increases risk of stroke

NEW YORK - Middle-aged and older adults who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea face an increased risk of stroke, says a new study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. The Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) examined stroke risk in 5,422 participants aged 40 years and older without a history of stroke. At the start of the study, participants performed an at-home sleep test, which determined whether they had sleep apnea and, if so, the severity of the sleep apnea. Participants were followed for an average of nine years. During that period, a total of 193 participants had a stroke: 85 men (of 2,462 men enrolled) and 108 women (out of 2,960 enrolled).



Time runs out for NRRTS conference

TRINIDAD, Colo. -NRRTS will close registration for its Continuing Education and Legislative Advocacy Conference (CELA) April 16. The conference takes place April 28-30 at the Holiday Inn Dulles Airport in Dulles, Va. The hotel reservation deadline: April 13. FMI: www.nrrts.org.



Consultants assesses healthcare reform's impact

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Industry consultant Andrea Stark will hold a Webinar on the impact of the new healthcare reform bill on DME providers May 5 at 2 p.m. EST. FMI: www.miravistallc.com/recent_services.php.



CMS addresses PECOS

BALTIMORE - CMS last week released a "special edition" MLN Matters on the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS). The article "provides guidance on the edits required to be identified in Part B claims from Medicare providers or suppliers who furnish items or services as a result of orders or referrals." To read the article, go here: http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1011.pdf