Regulatory

CMS Announces State Premium Allotments, Prosthetics Fee Schedule: The Baltimore-based Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the Oct. 25 Federal Register announced the state allotments for Medicaid payment of Medicare Part B premiums. Also, in Program Transmittal AB-02-152, CMS released the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies Fee Schedule Update for 2003. The complete transmittal is available at http://www.cms.gov/manuals/pm_trans/ab02152.pdf.

Medicare Increases Charges for Therapeutic Shoes: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Baltimore, has adjusted the reasonable charges for therapeutic shoes — codes A5500, A5501, A5502, A5503, A5504, A5505, A5506, A5509, A5510, A5511. The charges will increase 1.1 percent for the 2003 calendar year.

CMS Issues Guidance on Legitimate Duplicate Claims: In a Program Memorandum to the four durable medical equipment regional carriers, the Baltimore-based Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services encouraged the DMERCs to establish a Common Working File override for legitimate duplicate claims. CMS said that while the DMERCs must continue to police duplicate claims, the DMERCs also must possess the ability to identify legitimate claims for multiple items with the same date of service.

CMS Releases Guidance on Fraud-Reporting System: The Baltimore-based Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued instructions about submitting Medicare fraud investigation data to the Harkin Grantee Tracking System, which uses senior volunteers to expose Medicare fraud, waste and abuse among health care providers, including durable medical equipment providers. More information is available at www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/transmittals/comm_date_dsc.asp.

Accreditation

ACHC Completes Testing of Mail-Order Standards: The Raleigh, N.C.-based Accreditation Commission for Health Care has finished testing its standards for mail-order medical supply programs. Carolina Diabetic Supply Group in New Bern, N.C., was the first site ACHC visited. The organization defines the program as storage and delivery of home medical equipment, and/or medical supplies designed to meet the needs of clients who require the product for their medical management in the home care setting. The supplier does not provide in-home care.

JCAHO Announces ORYX Deferral: The Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations announced that all accredited home care organizations can defer the reporting of data from their ORYX measures to the Joint Commission until applicable core measures are identified. However, these organizations will continue to be expected to meet standards-based requirements for performance measurement, and to present relevant performance data, and actions taken in response to these data, during the Joint Commission's on-site surveys. The modified ORYX refinements, approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Commissioners last month, acknowledge the slow pace at which national consensus is being reached on appropriate performance measures for non-hospital care settings. The modifications also will eliminate what some organizations have seen as duplicate federal and private accrediting body requirements.

Noteworthy

AAHomecare Forms Partnership with NFIB: To provide more resources to its members, the Alexandria, Va.-based American Association for Homecare has formed a strategic partnership with the Washington-based National Federation of Independent Business, a small-business advocacy group. Under the partnership, AAHomecare members can join NFIB at a reduced rate.

PMC Opens New Headquarters: The Washington-based Power Mobility Coalition has opened its new Washington headquarters at 919 18th St., N.W., Suite 550. “We are excited to announce our new Washington, D.C. office,” said Tim Zipp, president of the PMC. “The growth of the PMC and our continued partnership with the government on important national issues have made this move necessary.”

Senate Confirms FDA Commissioner: The U.S. Senate Oct. 17 confirmed Mark McClellan, President Bush's nominee for Food and Drug commissioner. Currently a member of Bush's Council of Economic Advisors, McClellan is a physician.

Organization to Offer HIPAA Certification: The Chicago-based American Health Information Management Association is offering certification for health care privacy. Individuals who earn AHIMA's Certified Healthcare Privacy credential must pass an exam and demonstrate their commitment to advancing privacy management practices.

VGM Offers HIPAA Compliance Resource: The VGM Group, Waterloo, Iowa, has produced a comprehensive, 350-page HIPAA Self-Assessment and Compliance Resources Guide for home medical equipment and rehab providers. The guide is available to VGM members for $34, non-members for $399, and associations for $149. For information, call (800) 642-6065.