WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 14, 2018)—Effective August 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will require suppliers to use KX, GA, GY and GZ modifiers on oxygen claims. The KX modifier will indicate when payment criteria is met, and the GA, GY and GZ modifiers provide more information for oxygen claims that do not meet payment criteria.
Each week our editors select the top 5 headlines in our industry from media outlets across the web.
In late 2015, news of wheelchair pedestrian incidents trended. What they said: Height matters. The consumer moves at a low, fixed, static height which does not line up well with today’s higher, larger vehicles.
Many drivers are in a hurry or distracted, and navigating crosswalks—to cross the street or cross the parking lot—is dangerous enough sans being seated. Now suppose a new product could make wheelchair users safer, so they can see and be seen.
(May 10, 2018)—From MAMES: “The Midwest Association for Medical Equipment & Supplies (MAMES) members converged on Des Moines, Iowa April 25-27 for the 2018 MAMES Spring Excellence in HME Convention and Exhibition with the highest attendance for a MAMES Spring Convention since 2011. And based on the attendee surveys they provided they were happy they came. For the second consecutive event MAMES attendees rated the event a perfect 4.0 rating.
EXETER, Penn. (May 10, 2018)—Pride Mobility announced that its Pontotoc, Mississippi, power lift recliner (PLR) plant is experiencing unprecedented growth and production output with its made-in-the-USA PLRs.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (May 10, 2018)—Always Best Care Senior Services, a senior care franchise system in the United States, announced today that it has opened its newest franchise in Norfolk, Virginia. Always Best Care of Norfolk marks the company’s eighth location in the state and will provide senior care services to the Tidewater communities, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and surrounding areas. The new agency is owned and operated by first-time franchisee Sonya Meade Settles.
By Kristin Easterling
(May 10, 2018)—After months of advocacy from AAHomecare and other industry stakeholders, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and CMS have cleared the Interim Final Rule related to HME (CMS-1687-IFC) to increase fee schedule rates for certain DME items and services through 2018. Language in the recent Omnibus bill also urged the Administration to release the rule and move on relief for rural providers.
By Liz Carey
(May 10, 2018)—Applying steady pressure to pass two pieces of targeted legislation, complex rehab technology stakeholders joined recently for the 2018 National CRT Leadership and Advocacy Conference in Washington. In the days ahead, they’ll be following up on their Capitol Hill visits and looking for their priorities to pass either in forthcoming opioid legislation sooner, or upcoming Medicare legislation later this fall.
