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WASHINGTON – CMS in a final rule issued today says it will permanently stop applying competitive bidding pricing to accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs, NCART has reported. In late June, CMS agreed to extend an 18-month pause on applying bid pricing to these accessories for an additional 90 days, until Oct. 1., to give the agency more time to review the industry’s request. “We are sincerely grateful to CMS for making today’s policy decision and...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – National Seating & Mobility has acquired Sacramento, Calif.-based Eagle Accessibility Solutions & Equipment. NSM has also hired accessibility expert Scott Lanswick, owner and founder of San Diego Age in Place Services, to oversee home access services in Southern California. “Expanding the availability of home accessibility services is a reflection of our commitment to provide the full spectrum of mobility solutions to individuals who rely on them for independence,”...

BANNOCKBURN, Ill. – Option Care Health has named Dr. Seema Kumbhat to the newly created role of chief medical officer. She will oversee all clinical strategies, including clinical operations, continuous quality improvement, accreditation, clinically related sales and marketing efforts, and adherence to regulatory requirements. “As we continue to invest in our clinical differentiation and set the standard for delivering care to patients requiring infusion therapy in the alternate site...

WASHINGTON – Reps. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., and Don Young, R-Alaska, have asked Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to encourage CMS to move forward with a pending request to include power seat elevation and power standing systems in the national coverage determination for mobility assistive equipment.  “These systems improve the health and independent function of mobility-impaired individuals and allow them to more fully participate in mobility-related activities...

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – NCART and the Clinician Task Force have jointly published "Evidence-Based Response to Insurance Denials of Standing Devices,” a guide to policy makers and health care insurance plans regarding the proper coverage and funding of standing devices for children and adults with disabilities. "Standing devices have a long history of prescription and use to provide important medical benefits and other positive outcomes,” said Don Clayback, executive director of NCART....

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – A U.S. district judge has sentenced Dr. Richard Davidson of Delray Beach, Fla., to six years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Davidson was charged with establishing a conglomerate of DME companies that were placed in the names of straw owners. By concealing the true ownership of the companies, he and his conspirators gained control of multiple companies, allowing them to submit high volumes of illegal DME claims, while attempting to evade law...

DARIEN, Ill. – The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is launching a new accreditation application type to simplify the accreditation process for multi-site health systems. Sleep medicine practices and facilities that are under the same ownership or legal entity and operate under the same policies and procedures can create an Accreditation Network to streamline and coordinate multiple accredited programs. “It can be complicated to manage multiple accreditations when health care entities...

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Advanced Diabetes Supply has acquired US Medical Supply (US MED), a portfolio company of H.I.G. Capital that provides continuous glucose monitors and medical supplies.  Founded in 1996, the Doral, Fla.-based US MED contracts with more than 500 insurance plans covering nearly 200 million lives. It was acquired by H.I.G in 2015.  “H.I.G. served as a value-added partner to our leadership team and supported the transformation of the business,” said...

AMSTERDAM – Philips could hear back from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August about its plans to replace the foam in certain CPAP devices and ventilators, based on a timeline provided during the company’s July 26 conference call to discuss financial results for the second quarter.  Philips filed "multiple packages" of CFR 806 applications for corrections and removals with the FDA in June and CEO Frans van Houten said, based on prior experience, there’s typically...

FRESNO, Calif. – Sunrise Medical has appointed Josh Anderson, a long-time industry veteran, as vice president of business development for North America. Anderson, who will report to Larry Jackson, president of Sunrise Medical North America, previously worked at Spinergy, where he helped create the first Spinergy wheels for wheelchairs; and TiLite, where he was responsible for launching and marketing the company’s entire manual portfolio. “Josh understands the journey to introduce...