Tag: U.S. Rehab

In November, at the height of open enrollment season, U.S. Rehab’s Dan Fedor warned complex rehab providers about the Medicare Advantage plans that were being promoted by celebrities in TV commercials. The first thing providers need to know about these plans: what they’re promising Medicare beneficiaries. “A lot of (MA plans) are trying to lure (beneficiaries) from traditional Medicare to their MA plan,” said Fedor, director of reimbursement and education for U.S. Rehab,...

WATERLOO, Iowa - To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, VGM & Associates, U.S. Rehab and NCART have released a video featuring longtime champion and lead sponsor of the act, retired Sen. Tom Harkin.The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement was established in 2013 to continue to catalyze change on issues of social justice, fairness and opportunity.“Having him speak to the CRT policies that are needed helps set the stage for us to have those...

YARMOUTH, Maine - Two clinicians provided a realistic view of what telehealth looks like in practice during a recent webcast sponsored by NCART, NRRTS, U.S. Rehab and The Clinician Task Force.For Jennifer Lewis, telehealth has come in handy for deliveries, but she hasn't used the technology for evaluations, primarily due to insurance restrictions. Lewis, PT, DPT, ATP, of Tidelands Health Rehabilitation Services in Myrtle Beach, S.C, works with children with developmental disabilities. Since April,...

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. in April, NCART, NRRTS, U.S. Rehab and the Clinician Task Force were hosting weekly conference calls for the providers and clinicians trying their best to continue serving patients during the crisis.Here are a few notes from those calls:Prior authorizations pausedStakeholders received confirmation in mid-April that prior authorizations for power mobility devices are not required during the crisis. Providers may continue to submit PA requests if...

WATERLOO, Iowa - VGM & Associates, U.S. Rehab and NCART are raising awareness of the Americans with Disabilities Act, in honor of the landmark legislation's 30th anniversary.The campaign kicks off with a video featuring retired Sen. Tom Harkin, a champion of the disabled and lead sponsor of the ADA.“We are so pleased to have worked with NCART and Senator Harkin to put some great info together for the anniversary of the ADA,” said Greg Packer, president of U.S. Rehab, the complex rehab...

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. - NCART, NRRTS, U.S. Rehab and the Clinician Task Force are hosting a free webinar on COVID-19 Thursday, April 2, at 4 p.m. EST. The webinar will provide an update for complex rehab providers, manufacturers and clinicians, and allow time for information sharing and open discussion. “The COVID-19 virus is presenting significant challenges in all aspects of life, including the safe and timely provision of complex rehab technology and supporting services,” NCART stated...

Many Medicare Beneficiaries are being enticed by celebrities on TV to select a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan over Original Medicare Fee for Service (FSS) with all the standard benefits of Medicare at a lower out of pocket cost. These plans often state they provide additional benefits such as gym memberships, transportation and eyeglasses, so how can they provide more benefits with a lower cost? Seems too good to be true, doesn't it? How can these private for-profit insurance companies provide...

WASHINGTON - An upcoming review of PMD repairs by the Office of Inspector General raises the stakes for providers who are already grappling with a requirement that doesn't always match every day realities. That requirement: Before the date of service of a repair, providers must ensure there's documentation from the past 12 months showing “continued need” for the wheelchair. If it's not already in the medical record, stakeholders say it can take days to get, if not weeks if the patient...

DENVER - BioScrip and Option Care Enterprises, two of the largest independent providers of home infusion therapy services, have entered into a definitive merger agreement, the companies announced on March 15.Under the terms of the agreement, BioScrip will issue new shares to Option Care, which is owned by investment funds affiliated with Madison Dearborn Partners and Walgreens Boots Alliance, in an all-stock transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, MDP and WBA will own about 80% of the combined...

WATERLOO, Iowa - The best equipment provided by the best professionals results in the best care, according to the latest quality assurance data from U.S. Rehab members participating in its Functional Mobility Assessment tool.Almost 76% percent of patients report that they haven't fallen after receiving new equipment, compared to 48% who report they haven't fallen with their existing equipment, the FMA tool shows.“It shows that falls are affected dramatically by the right equipment,” said...