Tag: Non-invasive vents
OIG: Medicare pays too much for non-invasive vents
September 22, 2020HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Medicare pays more for non-invasive ventilators than certain other payers, according to a new report from the Office of Inspector General.The OIG estimates that Medicare and beneficiaries could have saved $86.6 million if Medicare-allowed charges were comparable with payment rates of select non-Medicare payers for HCPCS code E0466.Medicare paid $424.4 million for non-invasive vents in 2018, a 52% increase compared to 2016, the OIG found.The agency believes Medicare pays more for non-invasive...
Protech works to build NIV business
August 12, 2020HME News Staff
CINCINNATI - Protech Home Medical has executed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire a private respiratory company in the Midwest reporting unaudited trailing annual revenues of about $5 million, positive adjusted EBITDA and positive net income.
The acquisition would expand Protech's presence in the Midwest, including adding a large new market, and increase the company's active patient count by more than 3,000.
“The acquisition would be immediately accretive to...
CMS reviews NIV therapy for chronic respiratory failure
June 24, 2020HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - CMS on July 22 will conduct a virtual Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee meeting to review the evidence specific to the home use of non-invasive ventilators by patients with chronic respiratory failure consequent to COPD. The agency seeks the committee's recommendations on the characteristics that define patient selection and usage criteria, and concomitant services, as well as the equipment parameters necessary to best achieve positive patient health outcomes...
Stakeholders run with vent bill
November 8, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders are prioritizing the 180 members of the House of Representatives who signed a letter asking CMS to drop non-invasive vents from competitive bidding to now support H.R. 4945.The bill, which would delay the inclusion of NIV in the bid program for five years, was introduced Oct. 31, spearheaded by Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and co-sponsored by Reps. Peter Welch, D-Vt., Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., John Larson, D-Conn., and Darren Soto, D-Fla.“They're pushing forward...
Five lawmakers introduce SMART vent bill
November 4, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced a bill that would delay the inclusion of ventilators from the competitive bidding program for five years.
H.R. 4945, the “Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy (SMART) Act of 2019,” was introduced by Reps. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., John Larson, D-Conn., and Darren Soto, D-Fla.
“Medical ventilators are life-sustaining devices,” said Griffth. “Patients...
CMS downplays vent concerns
October 24, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - CMS says it has safeguards in place to protect beneficiary access to non-invasive ventilators during Round 2021 of competitive bidding.The statement is in response to the 180 members of the House of Representatives who signed a letter asking the agency to drop non-invasive vents from the program.“The response fails to address the central tenets of the House sign-on letter, including the idea that 'adequacy of Medicare payment for critical services like home ventilation care is...
Stakeholders stand their ground
July 3, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - The bid window for Round 2021 may be opening next week, but industry stakeholders are still racking up co-sponsors for H.R. 2771 and working on a Senate companion bill.
“As we move forward (with the program) it gets more complicated, but Congress has the power and the authority to (make changes) at any time through legislation,” said Jay Witter, senior vice president of government relations for AAHomecare.
In May, Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Dave Loebsack,...
Senate backs vents issue
June 21, 2019Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders have a new ally in their bid to convince CMS to drop non-invasive vents from Round 2021 of competitive bidding.A sign-on letter in the Senate had been the talk of the industry for weeks and Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, made it official last week.“These letters do have a significant impact,” said Jay Witter, senior vice president of public policy for AAHomecare. “They're not a silver bullet, but they're an important part...
ITEM Coalition adds voice to vent concerns
June 20, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The ITEM Coalition has sent a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma to express its concerns about including non-invasive vents in Round 2021 of the competitive bidding program. The coalition is comprised of consumer organizations like The ALS Association, which represents individuals with neuromuscular conditions who may need the life-saving devices. “CMS's decision sets an alarming precedent by forcing patients to rely upon the lowest DME bidder to receive life-saving ventilators...
Senate joins House to preserve access to vents
June 19, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., amd Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, are spearheading a sign-on letter asking HHS and CMS to drop non-invasive vents from Round 2021 of the competitive bidding program.The letter suggests looking at other options to address potential over-utilization issues.“The Medicare program has many tools at its disposal to effectively balance and maximize cost, quality, and access,” it reads. “For example, rather than moving forward with an abrupt effort to include...