Tag: Enteral Nutrition

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare is launching two nationwide surveys to gather intel on the rising costs of products, shipping and labor for those providing disposable medical supplies.  The association will use aggregated data from the surveys in its advocacy efforts.  “AAHomecare’s Medical Supplies Council is acutely focused on issues impacting the disposable supplies space and wants to empower the industry with data and tools that can be leveraged to educate payers on...

WASHINGTON – Medicare’s bid surety bond requirement did not have a negative impact on small supplier participation in Round 2021 of the competitive bidding, says the Government Accountability Office in a new report.  For the report, “Effect of New Bid Surety Bond Requirement on Small Supplier Participation in the Competitive Bidding Program,” the GAO reviewed CMS’ data on supplier bids and contracts, and interviewed two DME trade organizations, including AAHomecare,...

WASHINGTON - CMS announced last week that the DME MACs will be restarting the Targeted Probe and Education (TPE) program but did not provide a start date or any other information at this time…CMS is accepting public comments on removing the Enteral and Parenteral Nutritional Therapy National Coverage Determination, published in July in the 2022 Physician Payment proposed rule. The announcement comes after the DME MACs published a new Enteral Nutrition LCD and Parenteral Nutrition LCD that...

AMBLER, Pa. – Simplex Health, a provider of medical nutrition therapies, and Axia Women’s Health, an independent women’s health group, have expanded their partnership to support gestational diabetes patients across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. As Axia’s trusted partner, Simplex will support gestational diabetes patients by offering nutrition counseling to lower glucose and insulin levels, manage carbohydrate and sugar intake, and more. Simplex will...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The DME MACs will retire their local coverage determinations for parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition effective Nov. 12, according to the National Home Infusion Association. The NHIA commends the move, saying the LCDs for parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition “cause delays in access to care for Medicare beneficiaries with gastrointestinal disabilities and are administratively burdensome for hospitals, physicians and home infusion pharmacies,” the association...

WASHINGTON - Suppliers may now dispense more than the 30-day supply for enteral nutrition and Part B drugs, according to an announcement for the DME MACs. The change is effective for claims with a date of service starting on March 1, 2020. This relief is related to CMS's National Emergency Authority. In future potential audits, contract reviewers will determine if the amount dispensed was reasonable and necessary by reviewing the patient's diagnosis, prospective interruptions and delays to the supply...

WASHINGTON - The Healthcare Nutrition Council is one of the four organizations behind the industry's competitive bidding education website, www.dmecbpeducation.com. Here's what Madeline Jurch, senior government affairs manager for the HNC, which represents manufacturers of enteral and parenteral nutrition solutions, supplies and equipment, had to say about why the organization is helping the industry educate providers about national competitive bidding and, simultaneously, pushing back against the...

MINNEAPOLIS - After serving a “sliver” of western Wisconsin for years, Pediatric Home Service will open its doors to the entire state from its new location in Milwaukee.“We are pretty connected with the healthcare community there and we've heard over the years, 'Please come in and offer more services,'” said Mark Hamman, president. “We felt it was the right time to make the move and we will continue to work with payer sources and the state Medicaid program to expand...

WASHINGTON - Round 2 of Medicare's competitive bidding program does not appear to have impacted access to oxygen or enteral supplies for most beneficiaries, according to two new reports from the Office of Inspector General.The OIG analyzed claims data from three months before and six months after the July 1, 2013, kick-off of the program in both CBAs and non-CBAs.For oxygen, the OIG found that Medicare payments continued for 86% of beneficiaries in CBAs and 89% of beneficiaries in non-CBAs. Those...

WASHINGTON - CMS will host a Special Open Door Forum to allow feedback on draft templates and clinical data elements for parenteral nutritional therapy (order, progress note and lab test results) and enteral nutritional therapy (order and progress note). The forum is scheduled for May 31 at 2 p.m. EST. CMS recently released draft templates and CDEs for RADs, PAPs and vents; infusion pumps and nebulizers; and oxygen therapy. To participate in the forum call 800-837-1935 and use the ID 8778137.