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OCR investigates Change Healthcare cyberattack

March 14, 2024HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – The Office of Civil Rights, which administers and enforces HIPAA private, security and breach notification rules, has announced that it will investigate the cyberattack on Change Healthcare to determine whether patient health information was compromised.  The agency will also investigate whether Change Healthcare and UnitedHealth Group were compliant with HIPAA rules.  “We are committed to ensuring access to care, while enforcing laws that bolster patient...

Change Healthcare, Cyberattack


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CMS joins roundtable on cyberattack

March 14, 2024HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure participated in a roundtable with senior administration leaders to hear from health care providers about the challenges they are facing following the cyberattack on Change Healthcare.  At the roundtable, CMS announced that it will be issuing guidance that will provide needed flexibilities to allow states to support Medicaid providers and suppliers during this time, particularly those operating in fee-for-service delivery systems.  “CMS...

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Cyberattack


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In brief: CMS makes advance payments, state AG sues Apria, OIG warns of cath scams 

March 13, 2024HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – CMS on March 9 made available Change Healthcare/Optum Payment Disruption (CHOPD) accelerated payments to Part A providers and advance payments to Part B suppliers experiencing claims disruptions.  The payments may be granted in amounts representative of up to 30 of claims payments to eligible providers and suppliers. The average 30-day payment is based on the total claims paid to the provider/supplier between Aug. 1, 2023, and Oct. 31, 2023, divided by three. These payments...

advance payments, Apria, Catheter, Change Healthcare, Cyberattack, Data Breach, Fraud


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Change Healthcare cyberattack: CMS makes advance payments available 

March 11, 2024HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – CMS on March 9 made available Change Healthcare/Optum Payment Disruption (CHOPD) accelerated payments to Part A providers and advance payments to Part B suppliers experiencing claims disruptions.  The payments may be granted in amounts representative of up to 30 of claims payments to eligible providers and suppliers. The average 30-day payment is based on the total claims paid to the provider/supplier between Aug. 1, 2023, and Oct. 31, 2023, divided by three. These payments...

Change Healthcare, Cyberattack


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In brief: AAH on cath fraud & CCS on GLP-1s

March 8, 2024HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has issued a statement affirming its support for the government to implement real-time monitoring of claims to detect potential fraud and abuse, in response to news reports of potential Medicare fraud by a handful of intermittent catheter companies.  AAHomecare's statement, which was shared with CMS and Capitol Hill, also reiterates recommendations for federal government initiatives to better monitor DME supplier billing practices and trends, including:  Increased...

AAHomecare, Catheter, CCS, Diabetes, Noridian Healthcare Solutions, Soleo Health


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AAHomecare supports detection efforts in wake of cath fraud reports

March 7, 2024HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has issued a statement affirming its support for the government to implement real-time monitoring of claims to detect potential fraud and abuse in response to news reports of potential Medicare fraud by a handful of intermittent catheter companies.  AAHomecare's statement, which was shared with CMS and Capitol Hill, also reiterates recommendations for federal government initiatives to better monitor DME supplier billing practices and trends, including:  Increased...

AAHomecare, Fraud, Intermittent catheters


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Change Healthcare outage has ‘scary’ impact on HME industry 

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Change Healthcare outage has ‘scary’ impact on HME industry 

March 6, 2024Liz Beaulieu, Editor

YARMOUTH, Maine – The cyberattack that hit Change Healthcare in late February is making it difficult for HME software companies and their provider customers to process and bill claims, creating a dent in cash flows.  Change Healthcare, which processes 15 billion transactions annually, detected the cyberattack on Feb. 21 by a threat actor named “ALPHV/Blackcat,” forcing it to disconnect its systems.  “I’ve been in this industry for 25 years and I’ve...

Billing, Change Healthcare, Cyberattack


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In brief: CMS flexibilities outlined, reimbursement relief passed up, seat elevation code released 

March 6, 2024HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has outlined steps that CMS has taken to assist providers to continue serving patients in the wake of the Change Healthcare cyberattack.  Affected parties should be aware of the following flexibilities, the agencies say:  Medicare providers needing to change clearinghouses that they use for claims processing during these outages should contact their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) to request a new electronic...

Change Healthcare, Cyberattack, reimbursement relief, seat elevation


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HHS, CMS outline flexibilities in wake of cyberattack

March 5, 2024HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has outlined steps that CMS has taken to assist providers to continue serving patients in the wake of the Change Healthcare cyberattack.  Affected parties should be aware of the following flexibilities, the agencies say:  Medicare providers needing to change clearinghouses that they use for claims processing during these outages should contact their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) to request a new electronic...

Billing, Change Healthcare, clearinghouse, CMS, Cyberattack


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Package moves forward without reimbursement relief 

March 5, 2024HME News Staff

WASHINGTON – A narrow health care package announced over the weekend does not include provisions to extend the 75-25 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for DME in non-rural areas through 2024, AAHomecare has announced.  The package is part of appropriations language set for consideration on March 8, the association says.  “While this latest development is certainly disappointing, our lobbying team remains fully engaged in working with our champions to identify other options...

AAHomecare, Blended Rates, reimbursement relief


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