DME

WASHIGTON, D.C. (August 11, 2022)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is not planning substantial rulemaking to set a new round of home medical equipment competitive bidding in motion, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) said in a press release. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 28, 2022)—Bringing together home medical equipment (HME) leaders from around the nation, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) Virtual Washington Legislative Conference offers providers and manufacturers an opportunity to advocate for HME policy priorities with members of Congress and staffers through Zoom-enabled meetings.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 24, 2022)—A Charlotte, North Carolina, doctor is facing federal charges for her role in a durable medical equipment (DME) scheme that defrauded federal benefits programs of more than $11 million, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Sudipta Mazumder, 46, of Charlotte, is charged with one count of health care fraud and six counts of making false statements relating to health care matters.

ATLANTA (June 20, 2022)—After Emerald officials decided to consolidate the Medtrade East and Medtrade West shows into one annual event, the question became; when and where? 

“The suspense is over, and the contract has been signed,” said York Schwab, show director. “Medtrade will head to Dallas and take place March 28-30, 2023.”

The specific location is the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in the Convention Center District in downtown Dallas. 

DENVER, Colo. (March 3, 2022)—You Can Home Medical, managed by Caddis Capital Management, has acquired Independently Yours, Colorado’s largest retail medical supply store, with locations in Parker, Littleton and Louisville. The owners are selling to retire to their ranch in Colorado. The official acquisition date is March 1, 2022.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 10, 2022)—Legislation to apply 90/10 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for home medical equipment (HME) in former competitive bidding areas (CBA) has been formally introduced in the United States House of Representatives. The DMEPOS Relief Act of 2022 (HR 6641) would boost rates for items in the 13 product categories whose bid results were not implemented in Round 2021. These increased rates would apply from Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2023.  

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (January 27, 2022)—The Food and Drug Administration has expanded Philips Respironics’ product recall, adding the Trilogy Evo ventilator and muffler repair kits to the list—and declared it a level 1 recall, the most severe.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 27, 2022)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the 2021 Medicare Fee-For-Service Supplemental Improper Payment Data report. This is an annual report published by CMS’s Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) program that is intended to measure the improper payments made in the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 2, 2021)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published fee schedule adjustments for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) for calendar year (CY) 2022. Adjustments differ depending on whether the items serviced are competitive bidding program (CBP) items or in former competitive bidding areas (CBAs). Below is the breakdown:

MOBILE, Ala. (October 19, 2021)—Supreme Medical Fulfillment has joined the American Associatoin for Homecare (AAHomecare)—the national association dedicated to advancing the home medical equipment (HME) community. 

ATLANTA (October 14, 2021)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) is proud to announce the 2021 Van Miller Homecare Champion award, recognizing outstanding home medical equipment (HME) service, will be presented to Steve Ackerman, president and CEO of Spectrum Medical in Silver Spring, Maryland.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 13, 2021)—Ninety-five members of the House of Representatives have joined a Congressional sign-on letter urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to finalize the durable medical equipment (DME) rule and extend the 50/50 blended rates for suppliers serving rural areas.

AUSTIN, Texas, (October 11, 2021)—Movair, a respiratory therapy company formerly known as International Biophysics Corporation, announced the U.S. commercial launch of Luisa, an advanced ventilator intended for use in homes, institutions, hospitals or portable applications for both invasive and noninvasive ventilation. Luisa can be used through the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization in response to the increasing need for safe and effective ventilators.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 7, 2021)—The American Assocation for Homecare (AAHomecare) shared that it had received confirmation from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the agency that manages the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), that durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers are eligible for General Distribution Phase 3 and Phase 4 funding. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2021)—AAHomecare’s first-ever virtual legislative conference saw 140 durable medical equipment (DME) industry advocates engage more than 220 Congressional offices on DME priorities, including addressing Medicare rates that don’t reflect the market realities and rising costs currently facing suppliers.
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2021)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made $25.5 billion in funds available starting Sept. 29th. HHS is now accepting applications for General Distribution Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments. HHS is also accepting requests for reconsideration of Phase 3 payment calculations.

A new venture from leaders in the durable medical equipment (DME) industry is looking to increase the use of e-prescribe across the DME space. The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare), VGM & Associates, Ltd., AdaptHealth, LLC., Apria Healthcare Group LLC, Lincare Inc. and Rotech Healthcare Inc., have joined to form an independent e-prescribe company DMEscripts.