Tag: National mail-order program
Survey: Downward spiral for diabetes test supplies
April 24, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
CHICAGO - Dwindling choices and conflicting information about diabetes supplies available under the national mail-order program will have long-term ramifications for beneficiaries, says a new survey from the American Association of Diabetes Educators.
“Diabetes testing systems and supplies are the cornerstone of patient self-management,” said Kurt Anderson, AADE director of federal and state advocacy. “It's just such a cost effective way to treat diabetes and, in particular,...
Survey: Mail-order program reduces access
March 30, 2017HME News Staff
CHICAGO - Medicare's national mail-order program for diabetes testing supplies has sharply reduced beneficiary access, says a new survey from the America Association of Diabetes Educators.The “secret shopper” survey found that: • The number of brands available under the mail-order program has fallen 50% since the program started;• The number of models of diabetes testing systems available under the mail-order program is less than half the number available in 2009, before...
Senators introduce bill to preserve access to diabetes supplies
November 29, 2016HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Sens. Dan Coats, R-Ind., and Mark Warner, D-Va., have introduced a bill that they believe would help ensure that all Medicare beneficiaries have access to their preferred brand of diabetes test strips.The senators introduced the bill, the Diabetes Supplies Act, on Nov. 16 in response to Medicare's national mail-order program for diabetes testing supplies. As a result of the program, they say, the most commonly purchased brands of test strips are no longer available to Medicare beneficiaries...
Providers mull mail-order bid
August 1, 2014Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine - Will providers of diabetes testing supplies submit bids in the next phase of the national mail-order program? The verdict is mixed.
“We would love to have a mail-order contract,” said Kim Lynn, HME operations manager for Carolina Apothecary in Reidsville, N.C. “We lost a lot of customers because of competitive bidding.”
For providers, the big question is, how low will the reimbursement be? The single payment amount in the current mail-order program...
Mail-order program: OIG provides CMS with before, after picture
June 24, 2014HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - How has the national mail-order program for diabetes supplies affected brand choice?
CMS now has a before and after picture thanks to the Office of Inspector General (OIG).
The OIG published this week the results of a study to determine the market shares of test strips for the three-month period prior to the start date of the program on July 1, 2013. It found:
. Two types of strips accounted for about 34% of the Medicare mail-order market share;
. Four types of strips accounted...
AAHomecare adds videos to campaign toolbox
April 30, 2014HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare has made available for sharing three videos through its Save My Medical Supplies campaign.The short videos, available at www.savemymedicalsupplies.org, help to educate Medicare beneficiaries, families and caregivers about how Medicare problems can impact them, according to a release.The first video is an overview of major issues related to Medicare reform. The second: an interview with Thomas Morris, a beneficiary with diabetes and an amputee, that highlights issues related...
Audits take toll on contract supplier
March 7, 2014Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
FLETCHER, N.C. - All-States Medical Supply (ASM) in February laid off eight employees and company execs placed the blame squarely on audits.“We've got more than 15% of our cash flow held up in audits,” said Marcus Suess, CEO. “That's more than a 200% increase from what we've ever experienced.”The timing couldn't have been worse: The audits surged in November—about 800 requests for documentation in three weeks—several months after the July 1 implementation of the...
Diabetes supplies: Want to reduce fraud? Step up technology use
September 24, 2013Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - A new report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) on questionable billing for diabetes testing supplies drew sharp criticism from AAHomecare.In a report released in August, the OIG found that Medicare in 2011 allowed $6 million in claims for test strips that were inappropriate and another $425 million in claims that were questionable.“They keep saying that there are questionable claims paid and questionable claims paid and questionable claims paid,” said Peter Rankin,...
Mail order: What about the meters?
August 23, 2013Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
Medicare beneficiaries have a reputation for being a change-resistant bunch, but so far, many have proved willing to switch to a new brand of diabetes supplies under the national mail-order program, say providers.“I think they are prepared that they may have to change,” said Mike Iskra, CEO of Diabetes Care Club, a contract supplier. “We offer a good number of products, but there are some big names we aren't offering. Many will say, 'OK, what do you have?'”Although program...
Mail-order program forces Roche to cut jobs
August 5, 2013HME News Staff
INDIANAPOLIS - Roche, which has its North American headquarters here, will cut jobs in the next several months due to a 14% decline in revenues for the first six months of this year for its diabetes care business, according to an article in the Indianapolis Business Journal. “The U.S. diabetes care market is rapidly evolving, and Roche's diabetes care business in the U.S. is responding by making changes to its customer service and manufacturing operations, which includes the elimination of...