Tag: John Thune
Thune, Warner introduce pharmacy access bill
July 26, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Sens. John Thune, R.-S.D., and Mark Warner, D-Va., have introduced the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, bipartisan legislation that would ensure seniors can continue to access certain clinical services from their pharmacist. The bill would allow Medicare to reimburse for certain pharmacist-administered tests, treatments and vaccinations for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19 and strep throat, in accordance with state scope-of-practice laws....
In brief: Philips provides update, Tomorrow Health raises funds, Sen. Thune meets members
July 1, 2022HME News Staff
AMSTERDAM – A comprehensive testing and research program on the PE-PUR foam in certain CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilator devices has shown very low prevalence of visible degradation, Philips announced in an update on June 28.
In first-generation DreamStation devices, which represent 68% of registered affected devices globally, testing found:
164 of 36,341 (0.5%) devices with self-reported no ozone use showed significant visible foam degradation.
777 of...
Thune discusses challenges with HME providers
June 30, 2022HME News Staff
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., met with MAMES members in Sioux Falls, S.D., on June 29 to discuss the critical issues facing the HME industry.
Members, as well as executives from AAHomecare and The VGM Group, discussed critical staffing shortages, cost increases and surcharges, flawed reimbursement rates and burdensome documentation requirements.
“Sen. Thune spent an hour listening to MAMES members explain how they were an integral part of the health care...
Event puts HME in front of influential senator
October 11, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A fundraising event for Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., netted nearly $17,000 for the senator's campaign fund and gave HME providers a chance to re-engage with the longtime industry champion.
The industry is looking to Thune, a member of the influential Senate Finance Committee, to introduce a companion bill to H.R. 2771.
“He was attentive and listened to what everybody had to say,” said Rose Schafhauser, executive director of the Midwest Association of Medical...
MAMES honors Heitkamp, Thune
April 10, 2018HME News Staff
DULUTH, Minn. - The North Dakota and South Dakota members of the Midwest Association of Medical Equipment Services & Supplies have presented Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Sen. John Thune, R, S.D., with MAMES Legislative Champion Awards this month for their work supporting the HME industry. Heitkamp and Thune have both been champions of the industry's efforts to provide relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program in rural areas. After being presented with the award, Heitkamp indicated...
Senators introduce bill to address rural expansion
November 19, 2015HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan bill to “smooth the transition” to competitive bid pricing in rural areas dropped today in the Senate.
Introduced by Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., the DME Access and Stabilization Act seeks to ensure HME providers can still serve Medicare beneficiaries, according to a press release.
“It is important that people receive quality health care, no matter where they live,” said Thune. “Not only does this legislation ensure...
Midwest Medical hosts Sen. Thune
February 27, 2015HME News Staff
WATERTOWN, S.D. - Midwest Medical, a member of the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services, hosted a meeting with Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., on Feb. 19 to discuss concerns over the impact of competitive bidding in rural areas. “Senator Thune was very interested in our facts and stories about the national roll out of competitive bidding rates and the audit nightmares we have encountered,” stated Kay Johnson, owner of Midwest Medical, in a press release. Other MAMES members also...