Tag: Medicare

WASHINGTON ­– Total national health care spending in 2019 grew 4.6%, according to a study from the Office of the Actuary at CMS.  That’s similar to the 4.7% growth in 2018 and the average annual growth of 4.5% since 2016, according the study, which was published Dec. 16.   The share of the economy dedicated to health spending was 17.7%.  The 4.6% in growth in health expenditures was faster than the overall economic growth...

WASHINGTON - CMS announced on Oct. 8 new terms for payments issued under the Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Program. Under the “Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act,” repayment will now begin one year from the issuance date of each provider's or supplier's accelerated or advance payment. “In the throes of an unprecedented pandemic, providers and suppliers on the frontlines needed a lifeline to help keep them afloat,” said CMS Administrator Seema...

WASHINGTON - The owner and CEO of a telemedicine company has pleaded guilty to a $424 million conspiracy to defraud Medicare and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for DME orders, the Department of Justice has announced.Lester Stockett, the owner of Video Doctor USA and Telemed Health Group, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive healthcare kickbacks, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In connection with his plea agreement,...

CMS this week has made much ado about its new “What's Covered” app that allows beneficiaries to see whether Medicare covers a specific medical item or service, which of course includes HME. The launch of the app paralleled the agency's CMS Quality Conference, or #CMSQualCon19 as it's known on twitter. CMS's coverage of the event on the social media platform has included photos of attendees, including these patient advocates, giving the app a whirl. Screen Shot 2019-01-30 at 12.33.28...

WASHINGTON - CMS has released updated guidance for state Medicaid programs on Medicare coverage for dual-eligible beneficiaries, clarifying that states do not need to require a Medicare denial for DMEPOS like incontinence supplies that the program routinely denies as non-covered, AAHomecare reports. The guidance also suggests that states consider creating a list of DMEPOS that are not covered by Medicare to expedite Medicaid coverage and payment for dual-eligibles. By doing so, states can avoid requiring...

WASHINGTON  - AAHomecare and other industry groups have rolled out a resource to help providers prepare for the next round of Medicare's competitive bidding program. A new website, dmecbpeducation.com, brings together information on timelines, requirements and educational opportunities, as well as information on changes for the next round when it becomes available, so providers can make well-informed decisions. The website is a collaboration between AAHomecare, the CQRC, the MED Group, the VGM...

WASHINGTON - The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $135.50 for 2019, a slight increase from $134 in 2018, CMS has announced.About 2 million Medicare beneficiaries, however, will pay less than the full Part B standard monthly premium due to the statutory hold harmless provision, which limits certain increases in the Part B premiums for certain Medicare beneficiaries to no greater than the increase in their Social Security benefits, CMS says.The annual deductible for Medicare...

DALLAS - A U.S. District Court's recent opinion prohibiting CMS from recouping alleged overpayments from a provider going through the appeals process until after the administrative law judge level sends a strong message, industry stakeholders say.As part of the June 4 opinion, Judge Ed Kinkeade of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas agreed to issue a temporary restraining order against CMS, the latest development in Family Rehabilitation, Inc. vs. Azar.“The system, which...

WATERLOO, Iowa - Whether it's medical supplies or a hot dog stand, if you want to build a world-class company, your employees need to provide exemplary service, said keynote speaker John DiJulius at the Heartland Conference last week.“Price is irrelevant,” said DiJulius, author of several books on customer service and president of The DiJulius Group, a consultant to companies like Starbucks, Chick-fil-a, and The Ritz-Carlton. “(Customers want) compassion and empathy.”That...

It's always disappointing when the HME industry's efforts to get relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program fail to cross the finish line. But this last time around, when H.R. 4229 failed to make the cut in a recently passed omnibus bill, it was particularly disappointing. In the weeks leading up to the vote on the omnibus bill, I received emails from several providers asking, do you think it will happen? After the vote, the “ask” became, do you think it will ever happen? I offered...