Tag: Anthem

WASHINGTON - Starting Aug. 3, auditors will restart their audit functions, according to a recently published FAQ from CMS.If selected for review, HME providers should discuss with their contractor any COVID-19-related hardships they are experiencing that could affect audit response timeliness, states the guidance.CMS says all reviews will be conducted in accordance with statutory and regulatory provisions, as well as related billing and coding requirements. Waivers and flexibilities in place at the...

WASHINGTON - Anthem does not plan to rescind rate reductions of 11% to 60% for HME, AAHomecare reports.The payer and its subsidiary, Amerigroup, implemented the cuts for its commercial and government plans in the 22 states it serves.AAHomecare had asked Anthem to delay the cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic, making a direct appeal to President and CEO Gail Boudreaux that included the results of a supplier survey about the impact of the pandemic.In a June 30 response, Anthem Vice President Leah Timmerman...

WASHINGTON - Anthem and its subsidiary, Amerigroup, have proposed rate reductions of between 11% and 60% for home medical equipment, AAHomecare reports.The proposed reductions would include commercial and government plans across 22 states, according to the association.In a letter to Anthem President and CEO Gail Boudreaux, AAHomecare asks for a delay to the cuts, citing new cost structures due to the current public health emergency.“This is a time of crisis for our country and our health care...

WASHINGTON - The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) supports today's hearing examining the consolidation in the healthcare marketplace, conducted by the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law. Of particular concern: the proposed Anthem-Cigna and Aetna-Humana mergers. “Policymakers cannot allow the 'merger mania' gripping the nation to proceed in a way that harms patients and the community pharmacists who serve them,” said...