Tag: Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The board of directors of the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) has announced its 2024 Executive Committee and two new board members. The Executive Committee members are:  Chairman: Cameron Stewart, BOCO, BOCP, co-founder of Alcam Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics in Riverside, Calif.  Vice-Chairman: Abel Guevara III, DHA, MHIM, FACHDM, RHIA, mMBA, CPhT-Adv, CDME, vice president of DME for MedicusRx in Houston, Texas  Secretary: Angela Presley,...

The orthotics and prosthetics market received a positive boost from the passage of the Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA) earlier this year and field specialists are optimistic it will benefit providers and patients.  Set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2024, the LTA allows for consistent Medicare coverage and reimbursement for compression garments and supplies for patients living with lymphedema. This new law could be a game changer for the industry, said Matthew Gruskin, COO for Owings Mills, Md.-based...

Q. Why does my accrediting organization ask about complaints?   A. A delivery is late, someone is unhappy with their bill, a phone call was on hold for an extended time. Each of these incidents may seem minor and yet your surveyor expects to see documentation of complaints.   Accrediting organizations (AOs) are guided by CMS when it comes to how DME suppliers handle complaints. CMS requirements address complaints in both the supplier and the quality standards.   CMS...

YARMOUTH, Maine – With years of experience in billing, auditing, appeals and regulatory compliance, Noel Neil, JM, CDME, says being named the 2023 Certificant of the Year by The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) is validation of his hard work – and the value of certifications.  Neil, vice president of auditing and corporate compliance at ACU-Serve, spoke with HME News recently about the “humbling” honor and how, with a certification, “you’re starting...

WASHINGTON – Reps. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., and Adrian Smith, R-Neb., are collecting signatures for a sign-on letter asking CMS to accept the standard written order as the only necessary documentation to establish medical necessity for audits of home oxygen, sleep and non-invasive ventilation claims submitted during the public health emergency, according to AAHomecare.  The letter asks CMS to protect patient access by instructing contractors to use CMS’s widely accepted oxygen...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) has named Noel Neil, JM, CDME, as its 2023 Certificant of the Year, the first time it has given the award to a certified DME specialist. The award honors a BOC-certified professional for outstanding contributions to their profession, including commitments to service, research and outreach. “We’ve had the pleasure of working with Neil over the years in a variety of capacities,” said BOC COO Matthew Gruskin, MBA, BOCO,...

DMEPOS providers often view the accreditation renewal process as a daunting, time consuming and stress-inducing process—but it doesn’t have to be. While accreditation is essential to maintaining compliance with CMS and ensuring that businesses have a “patient safety first” mindset, providers can flip their mindset to view it as an opportunity to improve and evaluate their strategy.  Here are three recommendations for DMEPOS providers approaching their three-year cycle...

ELYRIA, Ohio – Invacare will close its production and distribution facility in Sanford, Fla., at the end of September 2023, in a move that will impact about 90 associates, according to a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  The company will move the manufacturing and distribution activities that take place at the Sanford facility to other locations or have them conducted by third parties.   “This decision is supportive of the company’s...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) is a winner in this year’s Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. This is the organization’s 11th Stevie Award since 2013. BOC won a Bronze Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service in the new “Best Customer Engagement Initiative” category. This new category recognizes organizations distinguishing themselves through customer engagement initiatives creating a positive customer experience and increasing...

NEW YORK – Terri McLeod, who received the 2022 Jim Newberry Award for Extraordinary Service, worked at a pharmacy/DME to put herself through college, obtained her first certification from the Board of Certification/Accreditation in 1985 and was trained by none other than Newberry himself.   “It’s such an honor – Jim and I had such wonderful conversations and meetings through the years,” says McLeod, who retired two years ago after a 51-year career specializing...