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      LCD has no bearing on at-home sleep tests

      YARMOUTH, Maine - A local coverage determination (LCD) released Feb. 14 that said home-based sleep studies are not covered under Medicare is no cause for alarm, industry leaders say.

      The LCD was released by National Government Services, a CMS fiscal intermediary.

      "This is not DME policy," said Dr. Paul Hughes, medical director for jurisdictions A and B, the regions covered by NGS. "This is for hospitals and docs who actually do PSTs."

      The LCD is simply a quarterly update, done to update revised HCPCS codes, said Dr. Robert Hoover, medical director for Jurisdiction C.

      "(The DME MACs) are in the middle of that process right now," he said. "In the next week to 10 days, the MACs will release our revised policies and the CPAP is still going to say facility-based testing is the way to go."

      That's because CMS has not yet released its final decision on whether to cover at-home based sleep tests. The decision, expected March 13, will likely favor the proposal.

      Until then, local coverage policy cannot be updated, said Dr. Hughes.

      "Until the rules change, the rules are what they are," he said.

      The LCD states: "For a study to be reported as a polysomnogram, sleep must be recorded and staged and must be attended. Sleep studies should be performed in a hospital, sleep laboratory or by an Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility that is supervised by a physician trained in analyzing and interpreting the recordings and should be attended by a trained technologist. Sleep studies performed in the home are not covered."

      "You will see an NCD in March that will most likely have a July 1 or Oct. 1 effective date (for at-home sleep tests), so when we are putting out our next revised policy we will again have to revise it depending on what the NCD says," said Hoover.


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      CALENDAR

      February 2012
      AAHomecare's upcoming Washington Legislative Conference will include Council meetings, a half day program and a Thursday, Feb. 16 lobby day.

      ACHC will offer a workshop to help HME providers prepare for accreditation Feb. 21 in Georgetown, Ky.
      More information is available here.
      Register by Feb. 15.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Pathophysiology: Cerebral Vascular Accident/Stroke (CVA) and Co-Morbidities," led by Barbara Crane, PhD, PT, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Feb. 21.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Dynamic Seating," led by Delia Freney, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Feb. 23.
      FMI click here.


      March 2012
      Richmond, VA (Omni). More details to come. www.vadmec.org.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Pathophysiology: Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Cerebral Palsy (CP)," led by Jill Sparacio, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, March 20.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Power Assist Wheels: Clinical Indicators and Documentation for Funding," led by Theresa Berner, MOT, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, March 22.
      FMI click here.


      April 2012
      Medtrade Spring will be at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.
      More information is available at http://www.medtrade.com/medtrade-spring/

      At the Hyatt Regency Hotel-Crystal City. More info to come. www.nrrts.org.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Pathophysiology: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)," led by Mary Shea, MA, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, April 17.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Home Accessibility: From the Front Door to the Upstairs Bath," led by Cynthia Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, April 19.
      FMI click here.


      May 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Pathophysiology: Duchene’s Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)," led by Michelle L. Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, May 22.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Positioning vs. Restraint: Appropriate Use and Justification of Secondary Seating Components," led by Michelle L. Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, May 24.
      FMI click here.


      June 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Power Wheelchairs: Using IR Transmission to Control Devices in the Environment," led by Jill Kolczynski, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, June 21.
      FMI click here.


      July 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Power Seating Functions: Clinical Indicators for Each," led by Stephanie Tanguay, OTR. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, July 17.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Access to fun! Recreation for all," led by Mary Carol Peterson, OTR. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, July 19.
      FMI click here.


      August 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Medical Interventions and Their Relationship to Assistive Technology Intervention: Tone Management, Surgeries and Orthotics," led by Pamela Wilson, MD. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Aug. 21.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Seating Considerations for Clients with High Tone," led by Sharon Pratt, PT. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Aug. 23.
      FMI click here.


      September 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Power Wheelchairs: Using the Access Method to Control the Computer Mouse," led by Mike Babinec, B.A., B.S., OTR/L, ABDA, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Sept. 18.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Advocacy for All! Consumer Driven Change," led by Ann Eubank, OTR, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Sept. 20.
      FMI click here.


      October 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Getting it right the first time: Measurements," led by Robert Lindholm, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Oct. 23.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Pathophysiology: Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) and Arthrogryposis," led by Michelle L. Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Oct. 25.
      FMI click here.


      November 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Wheelchairs and Transport," led by Mary Ellen Buning, PhD, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Nov. 13.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Funding: What’s New in the World of Reimbursement?" led by Liz Cole, PT. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Nov. 15.
      FMI click here.


      December 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Positioning: Clinical Considerations of Molded Seating," led by Jill Sparacio, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Dec. 18.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Assisted Ambulation: Gait Trainers, Walkers, Crutches and Canes - Clinical Indicators," led by TD Schenck, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Dec. 20.
      FMI click here.

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