Tag: spending
New study: Nationwide telemedicine adoption was not significantly associated with changes in visits or spending
May 12, 2026HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine – Telemedicine adoption is not significantly associated with changes in visits or spending – overall or across major payer groups – easing concerns about large spending increases, according to a recent article published in JAMA. In this cohort study using difference-in-differences analysis of more than 3 million U.S. adults during 2019-23, point estimates suggested that high-telemedicine-adopting areas had 2.4% fewer visits and 0.5% lower spending. Researchers found...
New report shows diabetes spending levels off as GLP-1 use, cost controls rise
June 24, 2025HME News Staff
SALT LAKE CITY – After decades of increases, diabetes-related health care costs have plateaued, according to a new Trends in Spend report from Nomi Health.
To build the report, the company analyzed employer-sponsored claims data from 2021-24 and found that, while overall health care costs continue to climb, diabetes costs have leveled off.
“For years, diabetes has been one of the biggest and fastest-growing costs for employers,” said Mark Newman, CEO and co-founder...
Spending on diabetes drugs skyrockets, gov’t says
February 25, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Medicare Part D spending for 10 selected diabetes drugs totaled more than $35.8 billion in 2023, a 364% increase from 2019, according to a new data brief from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Meanwhile, the number of Medicare Part D enrollees increased from 44.9 million to 50.5 million, a 12% increase.
“Certain diabetes drugs initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help control blood sugar levels...
In brief: HME spending drops, PlayMaker CRM secures funding
January 22, 2016HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - While overall Medicare spending has increased more than 175% from 2000 to 2014, spending on HME accounted for just 1.25% of overall Medicare spending in 2014, dropping from 2% in 2004, according to AAHomecare's analysis of a December update of the National Health Expenditure Accounts. Furthermore, spending on DME can lower overall Medicare costs in the long-term, the association argues. Every $1 spent on mobility equipment, for example, saves $16.78 in fall-related recovery; every $1...
DME is what we use, HME services is what we do
January 7, 2016HME News Staff
Historically, items like hospital beds, oxygen tanks and concentrators, wheelchairs, commodes, ambulatory aids, compressors and other items that could be used to support a medical need on an ongoing basis were referred to as DME. This is clearly an accurate, but one-dimensional definition.
Health insurance carriers, Medicare included, covered these items as a “DME” benefit when a doctor indicated that there was medical necessity requiring the use of any of these items.
This one-dimensional...
CMS: ACA spurs growth in health spending
December 3, 2015HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Overall national health expenditures grew by 5.3% in 2014, as millions of uninsured Americans gained health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, the CMS Office of the Actuary reported Dec. 2.The report also credits rapidly rising prescription drug costs for the growth.“Still, the rate of growth remains below the level in most years prior to the coverage expansion, while out-of-pocket costs grew at the fifth lowest level on record,” said CMS Acting Administrator Andy...
CMS: Growth in health spending remains low
January 7, 2014HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Overall national health expenditures grew at an annual rate of 3.7% in 2012, marking the fourth consecutive year of low growth, the CMS Office of the Actuary reported Jan. 7.Health spending as a share of gross domestic product fell slightly from 17.3% in 2011 to 17.2% in 2012.“For the second straight year, we have seen overall healthcare costs grow slower than the economy as a whole,” said CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner in a release. “This is good news. We will...
CMS: Zero growth for Part B premiums
October 29, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The Medicare Part B premium will not increase in 2014, CMS announced this week.
The standard Medicare Part B premium will be $104.90 in 2014, the same as 2013, the agency stated.
“We continue to work hard to keep Medicare beneficiaries' costs low by rewarding providers for producing better value for their patients, and fighting fraud and abuse,” stated CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner in a press release. “As a result, the Medicare Part B premium will not...
Update on PMD demo: Spending drops 50%
April 30, 2013HME News Staff
BALTIMORE - Spending on power mobility devices (PMDs) has taken a nosedive ever since CMS implemented a demonstration project that requires providers to submit prior authorization requests before supplying equipment.In an update posted April 23, CMS indicates that spending per month on PMDs in seven demo states fell about 50%, from about $15 million in January 2012 to $7 million in December 2012. In non-demo states, spending also fell, from about $23 million in January 2012 to about $17 million in...
CBO: Social security spending will outpace tax revenues
October 2, 2012HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Spending for Social Security totaled $773 billion in fiscal year 2012, about 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) and one-fifth of federal spending, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) stated in an updated report released Oct. 2.Over the next 10 years, outlays will exceed dedicated tax revenues by, on average, about 10%. That gap will grow larger in the 2020s.“As more members of the baby-boom generation retire and the U.S. population grows older in the coming decades, Social Security...