Tag: California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California’s recently passed $308 billion budget includes several positive changes for home medical equipment.   Those changes:  It makes permanent the 100% of Medicare for all respiratory equipment and supplies that was established by the Department of Health and Children’s Services during the PHE;  Eliminates the 10% cut on all DME and CGMs; and Eliminates the 10% cut for orthotic devices on July 1, 2022, or when federal approval...

REDDING, Calif. - With the fall wildfire season underway in California, HME providers are making sure their oxygen therapy patients are prepared to be without power more often.For the first time, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and other electric companies say they plan to cut off power to certain areas when the fire risk is deemed high, generally due to high winds.“SoCal has come out and said, 'If we have something that might stress the power lines, we are just shutting...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - National Seating & Mobility has acquired Western Rehab in California. The acquisition adds locations in Santa Rosa and Paradise/Chico to NSM's growing national network of locations. “Expanding our service reach in Northern California allows us to impact more lives with mobility solutions that drive independence,” said CEO Bill Mixon. Mark Hawkins, the former owner of Western Rehab, along with his field team, including three experienced ATPs, will stay on board to serve...

LAKE FOREST, Calif. - Grandfathering under the competitive bidding program came up recently when Medicare beneficiaries in California received a letter from Apria Healthcare saying that, as of August, they must transition to a contracted provider.While the letter raised questions about whether Apria was exiting the market, it is likely a routine communication alerting beneficiaries that their rental period is up, says Apria CEO Dan Starck.“We haven't done anything to the nature that people...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in May issued a revised state budget for 2010-2011 that proposes capping spending for DME to about $1,800 per Medi-Cal recipient per year. The governor also proposes capping spending for supplies like wound care (about $400 per recipient per year), and eliminating reimbursement for enteral nutrition (unless a recipient is tube fed). "Part of it is, they haven't been successful in cutting reimbursement rates, so they're getting desperate," said Bob...