BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (December 8, 2020)—President-elect Joe Biden has announced his intention to nominate Xavier Becerra, currently serving as attorney general of California, as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Becerra is well-known for his defense of the Affordable Care Act. Health care industry leaders praised the nomination on Twitter and in the news. Here’s what some of them had to say.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 8, 2020)—The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) has joined with other likeminded organizations to urgently ask Congress to consider the overlooked needs of the disabled and elderly when considering any upcoming COVID relief.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 8, 2020)—The Board of Directors for the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) met to welcome two new members, welcome back some returning members, elect officers, and bid a fond and grateful farewell to some outgoing members.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 7, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a 0.6% CPI-U adjustment to the 2021 DMEPOS fee schedule for products previously subject to competitive bidding provided in Competitive Bidding Areas (CBAs). The adjustment for suppliers in rural and other non-bid areas is expected to be even less.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (December 7, 2020)—3B Medical announced today receiving Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA to permit use of Lumin, a UVC system, on N95 respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lumin was designed to clean CPAP accessories but is also used as a multi-purpose sanitizer.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 4, 2020)—Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois) and David McKinley (R-West Virginia ) have introduced legislation to prevent Medicare reimbursement cuts to health care providers through the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act (H.R. 8840) would continue a pause of 2% Medicare sequester cuts through the duration of the public health emergency. In March, Congress halted the 2% sequester cuts through Dec.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (December 3, 2020)—The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) recently released updates on its ongoing efforts to combat health care fraud and abuse by publishing the results of its 2020 takedown effort targeting, among others, fraud and abuse in the telemedicine and prescription drug industries (2020 Takedown).
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Penn. (December 3, 2020)—AdaptHealth Corp., a provider of home medical equipment (HME) and related services, announced Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Orlando, Florida-based AeroCare Holdings, Inc., in a deal valued at about $2 billion.
NEW YORK, (December 3, 2020)—With the onset of COVID-19, New York-based St. Mary’s Home Care moved quickly to identify new approaches for conducting virtual home visits. The widely respected agency is part of St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, New York’s primary provider of long-term and rehabilitative care for critically ill and injured children.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 3, 2020)—Vaccine advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted 13-1 on Tuesday, Dec. 1, to recommend health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities receive prioritization for coronavirus vaccines that receive emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.
