In brief: Noridian educates, HCD honored

Workshops offer face time FARGO, N.D. - Noridian Administrative Services, the DME MAC for Jurisdiction D, is offering a series of workshops for DMEPOS providers throughout the months of September and October. During the workshops, NAS staff will cover the following topics: Medicare basics, roles of DME MACs and other contractors, accreditation, benefit categories, fee schedule categories, local coverage determinations, policy articles, documentation, appeals and updates and reminders. For a list of workshop locations, visit www.noridianmedicare.com. All attendees must pre-register and the cost is $30 per person. Power Mobility Coalition: Lack of oversight is cause for concern WASHINGTON - The Power Mobility Coalition (PMC) recently voiced its concern about findings that questioned whether CMS accurately reviewed DME claims. The association of manufacturers and providers of power mobility devices stated in an Aug. 28 press release that a comparison of an OIG report and a CMS review reveals "vastly different claims error rates: 7.5% by CMS vs. 28.9% by the OIG." The PMC stated it has worked with Congress, CMS, physician organizations and providers to establish a written policy clarifying the review process to be followed by Medicare contractors, but "an objective standard still eludes CMS." The association also called on CMS to boost fraud prevention efforts by expediting mandatory accreditation requirements. CMS cancelled phased-in accreditation deadlines for providers when national competitive bidding was delayed. "Congress should make it clear to CMS that the delaying of competitive bidding was not meant to delay any mandatory accreditation requirements that can be useful in the fight against fraud," said Eric Sokol, PMC director. "PMC strongly urges that a new phase-in schedule should be developed and implemented immediately." Home Care Delivered among fastest growing companies RICHMOND, Va. - Inc., a national business magazine, ranked Home Care Delivered No. 1,941 on its 2008 ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the country. The mail-order provider of diabetes testing, incontinence, urology, ostomy, wound care and other home medical supplies, ranked No. 88 among the top 100 health companies. The 2008 Inc. 5,000 list measures revenue growth from 2004 through 2007. To qualify for the listing, companies must be based in the United States, privately held, independent as of Dec. 31, 2007 and have had at least $200,000 in revenue in 2004 and $2 million in 2007. NAIMES reaches milestone HALIFAX, Va. - With the addition of four new members last week, the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers (NAIMES) now has 100 members and is looking ahead to its next milestone: 435 members. NAIMES' goal is to have one member in each of the 435 Congressional districts.