HOME |  LOGIN |  ADVERTISE |  CONTACT
HME Summit | Editorial Calendar | Media Kit
Back Issues | Manage my account
 
  • Markets
  • General news Blogs Editorial Smart Talk Category Development
    • Video
    • Resources
    • Digital Editions
    • Webcasts
    • Jobs
    • NEWSWIRE
      Industry makes progress on NCB, cuts

      WASHINGTON -- June 12 will be a day to remember for the home medical equipment industry. On that day, it managed not only to get a bill introduced that would delay national competitive bidding but also to stave off another attempt to cut oxygen and power wheelchair reimbursement.

      Competitive bidding

      On June 12, Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., introduced a bill that would terminate Round 1 contracts and re-bid them in 18 or 24 months. H.R. 6252 would also delay Round 2 until at least 2011.

      The Senate plans to introduce a bill with similar language this week, according to industry sources.

      "We have unprecedented support on this issue," said Cara Bachenheimer, senior vice president of government relations for Invacare.

      The delay, however, would come at a cost. To pay for the lost savings from delaying competitive bidding, the bill proposes, starting in 2009, a 9.5% payment cut nationwide for all product categories included in Round 1 of the program (As part of competitive bidding, CMS plans to slash prices for the products, on average, by 26%).

      Industry sources acknowledge the arrangement's not perfect.

      "Clearly, the cut is higher than many in the industry had anticipated," said Seth Johnson, vice president of government affairs for Pride Mobility Products. "Providers are concerned about the cut, but its impact depends on a lot of different business factors that they're now looking at."

      The bill also proposes numerous program improvements, such as requiring CMS to notify bidders of paperwork discrepancies and give them the opportunity make corrections.

      With bills to delay competitive bidding in both the House and Senate and support from Republicans and Democrats, the industry's chances of being included in a Medicare package look good, industry sources said.

      "This is a good story for us," Bachenheimer said.

      Additional cuts

      Also on June 12, an attempt by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., to move forward with a Medicare package that would cut reimbursement for home oxygen therapy and eliminate the first-month purchase option for power wheelchairs failed. The cuts were included to help prevent a cut to physician rates from going into effect July 1.

      "Baucus needed 60 votes to move his package to a final vote without debate, and he only got 54," Johnson said. "Now he has to go back and work with (Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa)."

      Grassley's Medicare package doesn't include oxygen or power wheelchairs cuts.

      Even though Baucus' package included the cuts, industry sources believe he's softening. Had Baucus been able to move his package to a final vote, sources said, he had pledged to eliminate the cuts and add language to delay competitive bidding.


      Email to editor | Comments (0)

       
      HME News Info Center
      SOURCE BOOKS
      2010 Technology Special Report
      2009 Complex Rehab Report
      Market takes a pounding p.3... Be upfront p.5...
      HME 2008 State of the Industry
      HME Sleep special report
      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.

      ADVERTISER INDEX
      Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc.
      American Association for Homecare
      Andonian Cryogenics
      Anodyne Medical Device Inc.
      ArkRay USA
      Brightree Inc.
      BRUNO Independent Living Aids
      Comfort Company
      Compliance Team Inc.
      Contour Products
      Definitive Homecare Solutions
      DMEtrain.com
      Dream Software Corp.
      Fastrack Healthcare Systems, Inc.
      GlobTek, Inc.
      Harmar Products
      HQAA
      IMC-Heartway, LLC
      Infopia Co., Ltd.
      Invacare Corporation
      medSage Technologies
      Merits Health Products
      MK Battery
      Nonin Medical
      Permobil
      Philips Respironics
      Pride Mobility Products Corp.
      QS/1 Data Systems
      Shoprider Mobility Products
      Sunrise Medical
      The Scooter Store
      VGM Group
      HME TV News - http://www.hmenews.com/video.php




      HOME       SUBSCRIBE       ADVERTISE       CONTACT       PRIVACY POLICY      

      United Publications, Inc.

      © 2012 United Publications Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED