Tag: Capped Rental

WASHINGTON - Although providers hoped to hear “April Fools,” the rule transitioning certain complex rehab items to capped-rental status went into effect Tuesday as planned.“This change in regulation is so ridiculous, and the basis behind it is so ridiculous, that my Pollyanna personality made me believe we were really going to get a delay or have the whole thing retracted,” said Doug Westerdahl, president of Monroe Wheelchair.Stakeholders and lawmakers called on CMS to delay...

WASHINGTON - A group of lawmakers has asked CMS to delay the transition of certain complex rehab items to capped-rental status on April 1.In a March 6 letter to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, two senators and two representatives ask the agency to delay the transition until at least July 1 “to allow for the development of appropriate classification policies that provide patients with medically-necessary CRT equipment in a reasonable and cost-effective way.”CMS has based its decision...

WASHINGTON - A group of lawmakers has written to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner to express concerns with CMS's plans to transition certain complex rehab items to capped-rental status on April 1. In the March 6 letter, the two representatives and two senators ask CMS to delay the transition until at least July 1 “to allow for the development of appropriate classification policies that provide patients with medically necessary CRT equipment in a reasonable and cost-effective way.” Industry...

WASHINGTON - CMS announced Feb. 24 that it seeks public comments on how to take its competitive bidding program for DME nationwide on Jan. 1, 2016.“While the methodology will be proposed in future rulemaking, CMS is first requesting comments on several aspects that it would consider in developing a methodology to adjust DMEPOS fee schedule amounts or other payment amounts in non-competitive areas based on the DMEPOS competitive bidding payment information,” CMS states in a fact sheet.Specifically,...

Complex rehab stakeholders say lawmakers had the same reaction they did to Medicare's plan to transition certain complex rehab codes to capped rental status.“They were surprised that CMS relied on 27-year-old data to make their decision, and that more than 170 comments were ignored,” said Don Clayback, executive director of NCART. “CMS has taken a situation that was working, with no funding or access problems, and created a problem with payment and access.”Stakeholders met...

WASHINGTON - The day-to-day reality of providing certain complex rehab equipment as capped rental items is unrealistic, providers say.“CMS is asking DME companies to provide complex rehab and finance Medicare over 13 months, when we have to pay the vendors back in 60 days,” said Patrick Mahncke, president of Denver, Colo.-based USA Mobility. “From a business standpoint, it's very difficult to do that.”On April 1, CMS plans to make 78 codes capped rental items, including manual...

There's a great deal of activity regarding healthcare policy changes with the goal of providing quality care and services in the most cost-effective manner. But to be successful, the process must include input from all parties so that changes are made in a fully informed manner and result in the most effective and positive outcomes. That's not happening when it comes to Medicare's coverage of complex rehab technology (CRT).Medicare policy changes impacting CRT during the past year fall under negative...

WASHINGTON - CMS's decision to pay for repairs for capped rental DME provided by The Scooter Store and transferred to beneficiaries on Oct. 24 is a step in the right direction, but not a solution, industry stakeholders say. “Before this, no provider could touch those chairs,” said Martin Szmal, founder of The Mobility Consultants. “Now providers can follow the same guidelines of any beneficiary-owned power wheelchair.” CMS stated in a bulletin last week that Medicare...

BALTIMORE - Medicare can pay for repairs to capped rental DME provided by The Scooter Store and transferred to beneficiaries on Oct. 24, 2013, according to a bulletin from CMS.Medicare can pay for the repairs performed on or after that date, so long as contractors deem the repairs reasonable, necessary and in accordance with Medicare regulations, CMS states.Industry stakeholders have been calling on CMS to address repair issues in the wake of The Scooter Store closing its doors in September.To...

WASHINGTON - Providers, consumer groups, clinicians and other stakeholders are fighting a rule that will transition certain complex rehab codes to capped-rental items in April, according to a bulletin from NCART. First on their agenda: Communicate concerns to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner and ask for an immediate delay in implementation until at least July 1, 2014. They also seek an in-person meeting as soon as possible...