Archive: April 2017

WATERLOO, Iowa - VGM has leased a retail storefront to create a Retail Training Lab at the upcoming Heartland Conference. Located across from the convention center, the 1,100-square-foot showroom will feature healthcare products and display ideas. VGM's online marketing agency, Forbin, will also be in the showroom discussing online marketing tactics and trends to help providers reach their target audience. “We're proud to enhance Heartland Conference attendees' experience by offering...

ATLANTA - Booth sales for Medtrade, which takes place Oct. 23-26 at the Georgia World Conference Center, are on track, show organizers say. Exhibitors such as Tennessee-based ramp manufacturer American Access are returning after a two-year absence, ready to tap into renewed industry optimism, according to a press release. “After the positive vibe from Medtrade Spring and renewed hope for regulatory change in Washington, we are optimistic,” said Kevin Gaffney, group show director, in the...

AUGUSTA, Maine - MaineCare will return to the 2015 Medicare fee schedule on May 1, according to a bulletin from the Home Medical Equipment and Services Association of New England (HOMES). Additionally, the rates will not be affected by the federal match reduction in the 21st Century Cures Act. "This is a huge win for our Maine members," said Karyn Estrella, HOMES President and CEO. "These companies have been struggling for the past year because of the national roll out of competitive bidding rates.”

SAN DIEGO - ResMed reported revenues of $514.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. Excluding contributions from Brightree, which ResMed acquired in April 2016, it reported revenues of $479.2 million, a 6% increase. “We had solid double-digit constant currency revenue growth in Q3, led by our Brightree software solutions, as well as mask and device sales," said Mick Farrell, ResMed's CEO. "This quarter we saw strong demand...

NOVATO, Calif. - Five years after the FBI raided its offices, Pacific Pulmonary Services has agreed to pay $11.4 million to the federal government to settle allegations that it participated in a kickback scheme.As part of that scheme, in 2006, the company's patient care coordinators allegedly began making patient referrals to sleep testing clinics in exchange for CPAP referrals, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Act.“The allegations are that the company had this wink, wink, nod, nod understanding...

ARLINGTON, Va. - The amount of work that needs to get done in Congress this year may be a double-edged sword for complex rehab stakeholders, lobbyists say. While the chaos could make it difficult for stakeholders to get heard, it could also provide a number of legislative vehicles for their issues, lobbyists told attendees at the National CRT Conference on April 26, after outlining the myriad goals of President Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress, including repealing and replacing...

SAN DIEGO - It was Brightree that pushed ResMed into double-digit increases for revenues in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017.ResMed reported revenues of $514.2 million for the third quarter, a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. But excluding contributions from Brightree, which ResMed acquired in April 2016, it reported revenues of $479.2 million, a 6% increase.“We have full separation of the commercial teams (between ResMed and Brightree), but as we look at the broader...

WASHINGTON - CMS gave insight into how providers are doing with a new prior authorization process for two complex rehab codes during the third in a series of Special Open Door Forums on April 25.During the forum, Dr. Robert Hoover, the chief medical officer for CGS Administrators, the DME MAC for Jurisdictions B and C, cited top non-affirmation reasons for K0856 and K0861 so far. An issue that has popped up in both jurisdictions: no evidence that an ATP had direct, in-person involvement in the selection...

WASHINGTON - The DME MACs for Jurisdictions B and C have agreed to process all holding claims for custom seats and backs based on individual pricing, Rita Stanley, vice president of government relations for Sunrise Medical, announced at the National CRT Conference on April 26. Stanley says she was told there are 30 or so such claims for E2609 and E2617. “As of today, they were going to start processing those claims based on individual consideration again,” she said. “If the...

WASHINGTON - Nearly 41% of HME providers have dropped Medicare since July 2013, according to AAHomecare. That was when Round 2 of the competitive bidding program kicked off in 91 cities with an average reimbursement cut of 45%. Three states—California, New York and New Jersey—saw declines of more than 60%, while the District of Columbia saw a decline of 85.7%, according to data AAHomecare analyzed from the Medicare Supplier Directory. Bigger picture, the association found the...