Tag: CRT Accessories
Accessories: ‘Our road has not ended’
July 2, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – It’s not a permanent fix, but stakeholders say it’s a great sign that, about a month after taking the reins, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure agreed to extend a suspension of scheduled Medicare cuts to accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs.
CMS announced on June 23 that it would extend an 18-month pause on applying competitive bidding pricing to these accessories for an additional 90 days, until Oct. 1.
“We have seen some...
In brief: Griggs takes reins, accessories need protection, Humana makes buy
June 18, 2021HME News Staff
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Luke McGee has resigned from his positions as co-CEO and director of the board of AdaptHealth, and Stephen Griggs has been named CEO effective immediately.
Griggs, who is also a member of the board, joined AdaptHealth in February as co-CEO following the company’s acquisition of AeroCare Holdings, which he founded and led as president and CEO.
“Steve’s extensive management experience, along with health sector expertise and a proven...
Complex rehab update: Clock ticks on accessories, telehealth advances
March 26, 2021Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - Stakeholders are still waiting to see who will officially lead CMS under President Biden, largely stalling their efforts to permanently eliminate competitive bidding pricing for accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs.
An 18-month suspension on bid pricing is set to expire on July 1.
“Between the COVID uproar last year and the fact that we’re now still waiting for the CMS administrator –...
Accessories issue clears committee
July 17, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives has approved a bill that includes language to suspend bid pricing for accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs for one year, according to AAHomecare. The committee's Health Subcommittee endorsed the bill, H.R. 2328, last week. The bill would also permanently exempt complex rehab manual wheelchairs from the competitive bidding program. H.R. 2328 is one of two larger bills with similar language. The House Ways and...
Accessories issue passes another hurdle
June 28, 2019Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - A bill in the House of Representatives that would temporarily stop Medicare from applying competitive bidding pricing to accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs is headed to the floor for a full vote.The Ways and Means Committee passed H.R. 3429, the “HEARTS and Rural Relief Act,” with a voice vote after a “mark up” session on Wednesday, June 26.“This means the bill has been fully vetted, so it'll be much easier to get it to a full vote,”...
Deeper dive: New bill builds framework for separate benefit
June 7, 2019Liz Beaulieu, Editor
BUFFALO, N.Y. - A new bill to create a separate benefit for complex rehab that's “less prescriptive” than previous bills will improve the chances of Congress passing it and CMS embracing it, stakeholders say.“The general idea was to give CMS, in essence, direction, but to leave them some flexibility,” said Don Clayback, executive director of NRRTS. “Congress (works on the assumption) that CMS can take care of issues like these, with some direction.”Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner,...
In brief: KCI sells to 3M, senators introduce accessories bill
May 3, 2019HME News Staff
SAN ANTONIO and NEW YORK - A consortium of funds led by Apax Partners has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Acelity and its KCI subsidiaries worldwide to 3M for about $6.725 billion.KCI markets a broad range of negative pressure wound therapy, specialty surgical and advanced wound care dress products in about 90 countries.“Today, KCI embarks upon a new era,” said R. Andrew Eckert, CEO of Acelity. “Backed by the resources and expertise of 3M, KCI will be able to offer clinicians...
Headed for a vote: Medicaid bill that includes accessories language
December 7, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - December may, once again, turn out to be a lucky month for complex rehab stakeholders.Last week, industry champions in the House of Representatives were able to slide into a larger bill some language that requires CMS to stop applying competitive bidding pricing to accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs for 18 months, from Jan. 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.“We're pleased with the 18 months,” said Seth Johnson, senior vice president of government affairs for Pride...
Manual accessories: NCART puts new emphasis on access
March 23, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - Complex rehab stakeholders are taking a slightly different tack now that the manual accessories issue wasn't included in the recent omnibus bill.Stakeholders were pushing for H.R. 3730, a bill that would stop competitive bidding-related cuts for accessories for complex manual wheelchairs, to be part of the much larger spending package.“Unfortunately, it was a big bill, which is why it's so attractive for (ride-ons), but we didn't make the cut,” said Don Clayback, executive...
All eyes on House bill for manual accessories
November 22, 2017Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - With the clock ticking on 2017, stakeholders have zeroed in on increasing the number of co-sponsors for a bill in the House of Representatives that would protect accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs.At press time, H.R. 3730, which would exempt these accessories from competitive bidding pricing, had 49 co-sponsors.“We're staying in regular contact with our champions and what they've told us is, stay focused on building the level of support for the bill,” said Seth...