News

YARMOUTH, Maine – A majority of HME providers have expanded the number of brands they carry in the past year due to ongoing supply chain issues and price increases, according to a recent HME Newspoll.  Nearly 76% of respondents say they now carry more brands than they used to.  “While efficiency is better with fewer brands, I’ve found it more important, especially in the past year, to ensure having multiple backup brands ready at a moment’s notice,” wrote...

WASHINGTON – VGM has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expedite its approval process for a replacement foam for respiratory devices affected by the Philips recall.  “We are requesting accelerated approval from the FDA for this critical replacement component for approved technicians to rapidly start the process of replacing/repairing all recalled units,” states VGM in a letter to the agency.  Philips on June 14 announced a voluntary recall of certain...

WASHINGTON – VGM has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expedite its approval process for a replacement foam for respiratory devices affected by the Philips recall.  “We are requesting accelerated approval from the FDA for this critical replacement component for approved technicians to rapidly start the process of replacing/repairing all recalled units,” states VGM in a letter to the agency.  Philips on June 14 announced a voluntary recall of certain...

BOSTON – The MassHealth Medicaid program is implementing a 10% rate increase for DME claims with dates of service effective July 1, 2021.    It's also implementing a 50% increase for labor code K0739, which covers repair or nonroutine service for DME other than oxygen equipment requiring a skilled technician.  “This is a big win when we needed it most,” said Jason Morin, president & CEO of HOMES. “Between the pandemic impacts and the recent respiratory...

WASHINGTON – Xavier Becerra, secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services, on Monday extended the public health emergency from July 20 for another 90 days.  There are several HME-related provisions tied to the PHE, including:  Medicare’s 75/25 blended reimbursement rates for non-rural, non-competitive bidding areas  Waivers of the coverage criteria and face-to-face requirements for respiratory therapy  Reimbursement for telehealth services...

YARMOUTH, Maine – CGS has updated its FAQ on the Philips recall, adding two new questions and revising three questions. The two new questions are: If a beneficiary with a patient-owned recalled device refuses warranty support or chooses to purchase a replacement device out of pocket, will the DME MACs honor an executed ABN that holds the beneficiary responsible for replacement (outside of warranty) as same or similar to equipment previously purchased be Medicare? The DME MACs will...

PHOENIX – When Congress breaks for recess next month, the industry needs to prime the pump for the fall, said John Gallagher, vice president of government relations for VGM, at Medtrade West.  “It’s time for the August of Action,” he said during a legislative update at that the show. “They’ll have the infrastructure package behind them, so when they come back, they will be dealing with issues related to Medicare and health care, so reach out to them while...

WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care in a statement today encouraged CMS to reconsider eliminating the CMN for home oxygen therapy.  The CQRC, a coalition of the nation’s largest respiratory providers and manufacturers, says doing that would replace “objective testing ordered by a patient’s physician for the subjective decision-making of Medicare contractors.”  “We are highly supportive of allowing acute patients to receive oxygen...

WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care in a statement today encouraged CMS to reconsider eliminating the CMN for home oxygen therapy. The CQRC, a coalition of the nation’s largest respiratory providers and manufacturers, says doing that would replace “objective testing ordered by a patient’s physician for the subjective decision-making of Medicare contractors.” “We are highly supportive of allowing acute patients to receive oxygen therapy outside...

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice opened 1,148 new criminal health care fraud investigations in fiscal year 2020, according to an annual report published this week. Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges in 412 cases involving 679 defendants. A total of 440 defendants were convicted of health care fraud-related crimes. The DOJ also opened 1,079 new civil health care fraud investigations and had 1,498 civil health care fraud matters pending at the end of fiscal year 2020. Investigative...