Tag: Enteral Nutrition
Sen. Jim McGovern seeks coverage for medical foods, formulas
December 8, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., has introduced the Medical Foods and Formulas Access Act to require Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program to cover specialized formulas, vitamins, individual amino acids and other medically necessary foods prescribed by a physician for patients with specific gastrointestinal and inherited metabolic disorders.
The bill would ensure state and federal protection...
Medicaid update from Texas: ‘No feasible way’ to survive proposed cuts
December 5, 2025Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
AUSTIN, Texas – Proposed Medicaid cuts of up to 85% by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) would destroy the state’s durable medical equipment (DME) infrastructure – and patient access along with it, say providers.
Proposed rates published in October include cuts of 18.66% to 39.47% for oxygen, depending on modality, 78.25% for pulse oximeters and 51.06% for...
NHIA white paper outlines negative impact of competitive bidding on home enteral nutrition
October 8, 2025HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) has released a new white paper, “Trends in Home Enteral Nutrition—The Impacts of Competitive Bidding on Access and Quality,” that documents the declining payment structure for the clinical services needed to support patients on this therapy.
An estimated 220,000 individuals in the United States rely on home enteral nutrition (HEN), a therapy that demands clinical coordination, specialized equipment,...
Complaint charges provider with upcoding for nutrition formulas
January 16, 2025HME News Staff
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The United States and the State of North Carolina have filed a complaint against Benson I. Ejindu alleging he knowingly submitted or caused to be submitted false claims to North Carolina Medicaid for more expensive medical supplies than were actually provided to the Medicaid recipients, a practice known as upcoding. From at least May 19, 2017, through August 23, 2019, Ejindu, through a DME business that he operated under different names, allegedly caused the submission of...
Stakeholders seek to make ‘headway’ on enteral nutrition
March 22, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – Stakeholders are hoping a new white paper will serve as a tool to educate payers and policymakers on the disconnect between rising costs and stagnating reimbursement specifically for enteral nutrition.
Everything from shipping to labor to enteral formulas has seen increases in cost, says Vicki Emch, area vice president of clinical operations for Colorado-based Aveanna Healthcare, who was part of the workgroup that developed the paper, “Challenges in Enteral Nutrition...
Enteral nutrition white paper discusses challenges
January 10, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has partnered with the Global Enteral Device Supplier Association on a white paper to provide an overview of the enteral nutrition market.
“Challenges in Enteral Nutrition Access & Management: Safeguarding Life-Sustaining Enteral Nutrition” discusses market challenges that threaten access to EN and the integral role of HME providers in delivering clinically appropriate EN to end users as valued partners in the care continuum. The paper includes...
Providers scramble amid shortage of enteral formulas
September 8, 2023Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine – Abbott will increase production of several adult enteral formulas in the retail market to offset low supplies in the institutional market, but providers worry that won’t be enough if a shortage drags on.
In September, Abbott said it would make Ensure Original Vanilla with Fiber, Ensure Plus Vanilla with Fiber and Nepro Vanilla available for institutional use – and at comparable pricing.
“It looks like they heard our concerns,”...
AAH rolls out infographics
August 15, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has transformed the results of its nationwide surveys on cost increases for ostomy, urological, wound care and enteral nutrition providers into infographics that can be shared with payers and policymakers. “I encourage all AAH members to get involved with AAH initiatives, as I’ve seen first-hand the impact we can have on the HME industry by working together on developing advocacy tools to help educate payers on the importance of having sustainable reimbursement...
Surveys seek to fight ‘commoditization’ of industry
April 7, 2023Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – So many payers don’t understand the day-to-day realities of providing medical supplies that it’s up to the HME industry to tell its story and ensure end users don’t lose access, say stakeholders.
AAHomecare in March launched two nationwide surveys – enteral (enteral nutrition, pumps, kits, and/or supplies) and supplies (wound care, ostomy, and/or urological supplies) – to gather information on the rising costs that providers face.
“If...
AAH launches supplies survey
March 20, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare is launching two nationwide surveys to gather intel on the rising costs of products, shipping and labor for those providing disposable medical supplies.
The association will use aggregated data from the surveys in its advocacy efforts.
“AAHomecare’s Medical Supplies Council is acutely focused on issues impacting the disposable supplies space and wants to empower the industry with data and tools that can be leveraged to educate payers on...