News
CQRC to subcommittee: Provide relief to preserve access
May 3, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Home respiratory care providers have played a crucial role amid the ongoing public health emergency and lawmakers should support policies that ensure long-term reimbursement stability in the market, the Council for Quality Respiratory Care stated in testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.
The CQRC submitted the testimony as part of a recent hearing on “The Long Haul: Forging a Path Through...
Industry in waiting
April 30, 2021Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – CMS’s decision to delay finalizing a proposed rule could signal the agency’s intent to focus on other matters, say industry stakeholders.
“We believe CMS is planning on issuing a proposed rule to modify the bid program,” says Cara Bachenheimer, who heads up the government affairs practice at Brown & Fortunato, where she is also a shareholder. “My guess is they are focused on that.”
In a notice...
In brief: AdaptHealth increases credit, Permobil goes Progeo, Alick’s buys Pill Box
April 30, 2021HME News Staff
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – AdaptHealth has expanded its credit by $300 million to boost acquisitions and for general corporate purposes.
The company amended its senior secured credit facilities to increase its term loan by $100 million and to expand the maximum borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility from $250 million to $450 million.
“We appreciate the support of the company’s lenders as we continue to execute on the company’s...
In brief: AAHomecare campaign, PHE extension, telehealth review
April 23, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has tapped public relations firm Keybridge Communications for a media campaign to build awareness of the value of HME.
“Stepping up our strategic communications capacity is essential to our continued efforts to bring home more policy wins for HME suppliers and manufacturers,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO. “Keybridge Communications brings a strong level of experience in developing effective messages and...
AAHomecare launches campaign to ‘underscore’ HME’s role
April 22, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has tapped public relations firm Keybridge Communications for a media campaign to build awareness of the value of HME.
“Stepping up our strategic communications capacity is essential to our continued efforts to bring home more policy wins for HME suppliers and manufacturers,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO. “Keybridge Communications brings a strong level of experience in developing effective messages and demonstrated...
HHS extends PHE
April 20, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Xavier Becerra, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has extended the public health emergency for another 90 days.
The PHE, which was set to expire April 21, is now good through July 21. The PHE was initially declared on Jan. 31.
There are a number of HME-related provisions that are tied to the PHE, including Medicare’s 75/25 blended reimbursement rates for non-rural, non-competitive bidding areas, and waivers of...
Draft assessment questions impact of CPAP therapy
April 19, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Published studies mostly do not support that CPAP therapy affects long-term, clinically important outcomes, according to a 155-page draft technology assessment prepared for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Specifically, with low strength of evidence, randomized controlled trials do not demonstrate that CPAP therapy affects all-cause mortality, various cardiovascular outcomes, changes in psychological measures...
HME industry is open to business travel in 2021
April 16, 2021Liz Beaulieu, Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine – The majority of respondents to a recent HME Newspoll (62%) say they plan to attend at least one in-person industry event this year, because “it’s time for us to get back to business as usual.”
Helping to make their decision easier, say several respondents: vaccines.
“I’ve missed seeing friends and colleagues,” said Victoria Peterson of Respiratory & Medical Homecare in Texas. “With an...
In brief: AdaptHealth CEO, sequestration relief, HCD funding
April 16, 2021HME News Staff
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Luke McGee has been placed on unpaid leave from his roles as co-CEO and director of AdaptHealth after authorities in Denmark formally charged him with alleged tax fraud.
The alleged fraud stems from personal activity that occurred between March 2014 and August 2015, and has no connection to AdaptHealth’s business, according to a statement from the company’s board of directors.
“The board of directors of AdaptHealth takes...
Sequestration relief extended through end of year
April 14, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives has passed an amended version of H.R. 1868, extending the pause on the 2% Medicare sequester cuts through the end of 2021.
As a result, about $158 million more in Medicare payments will be made to HME providers over the rest of the year, on top of the $193 million provided by pausing the cuts from May 2020 through March 2021, according to AAHomecare.
“Keeping the 2% sequester...