Tag: Power mobility demonstration
Early results mixed, but optimism reigns
October 24, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
HME News reached out to providers in September to find out how the PMD demo was going.The verdict: “It's too soon to tell.”Providers in seven states began submitting prior authorization requests for power mobility devices Sept. 1. Medicare has 10 days to reply to those requests, so many providers still hadn't heard back by press time.“I'm cautiously optimistic,” said Doug Westerdahl, CEO of Rochester, N.Y.-based Monroe Wheelchair. “I'm very hopeful it goes as smoothly...
Early results mixed, but optimism reigns
October 24, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
HME News reached out to providers in September to find out how the PMD demo was going.The verdict: “It's too soon to tell.”Providers in seven states began submitting prior authorization requests for power mobility devices Sept. 1. Medicare has 10 days to reply to those requests, so many providers still hadn't heard back by press time.“I'm cautiously optimistic,” said Doug Westerdahl, CEO of Rochester, N.Y.-based Monroe Wheelchair. “I'm very hopeful it goes as smoothly...
There's an app for that
September 25, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
WASHINGTON - With the power mobility demo emphasizing proper documentation and CMS's electronic clinical template still in the relatively early stages, template programs can help, developers say.Mobility ExpertRon Manno, owner of Reliant Data Solutions, launched an iPad app in August that is intended to help document every step of providing a power mobility device.The app, Mobility Expert, walks physicians through the documentation process and allows for photographs and videotaping. Photos and text...
In brief: Re-supply guidance released, NRRTS pushes bill
August 31, 2012HME News Staff
BALTIMORE - As promised, the four CMS medical directors have released an FAQ on re-supplies. CMS announced in a June bulletin that items that need periodic replacement, like CPAP supplies, must be non-functioning. That led to numerous questions from providers about the policy and how to comply with it. The 15-question document attempts to explain the policy and answer questions like, why the documentation guidelines are so vague (to give suppliers discretion) and what "non-functional" means (the...
Full steam ahead for PMD demo
August 31, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
WASHINGTON - Despite protest from HME stakeholders, CMS officials stated during an Open Door Forum Aug. 29 that a new power mobility demonstration project would kick off as scheduled Sept. 1.
AAHomecare on Aug. 27 called for CMS to start the demo 30 days after it released a final version of instructions. CMS released those instructions during the forum.
“We're very excited (to get) started,” said Melanie Combs-Dyer, deputy director of the Provider Compliance Group at CMS.
The...
PMD demo start date: Sept. 1
August 2, 2012HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The seven-state power mobility device demonstration project will begin nine months after its original start date.
The three-year demo will begin Sept. 1, according to a notice CMS filed in the Federal Register Aug. 1. The notice states that the primary reason for the demo is to reduce Medicare fraud.
"Power mobility devices have had historically high incidents of fraud and improper payments,” it states. “Although we recognize that many improper payments are not the...
PMD demo: CMS may change stance on accessories
July 27, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
WASHINGTON - The newest draft version of an operations guide for the power mobility device (PMD) demonstration project includes a word providers have been hoping to see: accessories.A note in the guide, "Accessories: reserved for future use," which is listed with the PMD codes that will be included in the demo, is a placeholder, CMS officials stated during an Open Door Forum July 27."At this point in time, we have not made a decision," said Doris Jackson, a health insurance specialist at CMS, during...
CMS: Accessories not part of PMD demo
June 29, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
BALTIMORE - Providers want to know: how do you determine the medical necessity of a power wheelchair when you don't consider the accessories added to meet a patient's needs?CMS had no answer to that question during last week's Open Door Forum for the PMD demonstration except to say that accessories will not be included in the prior authorization process."The accessories cost much more than the base," Wayne Levesque of Mobility Medical told CMS officials during the forum. "From my standpoint, if you're...
CMS puts demo details on paper
May 4, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
WASHINGTON - CMS last week released a draft version of an operational guide for the seven-state power mobility device (PMD) demonstration project.Providers called in to an Open Door Forum May 3 to hear CMS review the draft, which details how the demo's prior authorization process will work."You hear us answer lots of your questions on these phone calls and on the website in the FAQs, but we really want to have a one-stop-shop to lay out all of the details," said Melanie Combs-Dyer, deputy director...