Funding


U.S. Health Spending Grew 5.5% in 2015

CMS releases 2015 to 2025 projections of national health expenditures; 2016 spending projected to grow by 4.8 percent.

Providers Need to Learn About Key Audit Changes

Webinar from senior Van Halem Group expert Kelly Grahovac to identify new audit trends, and explain how providers should prepare.

New Senate Bill Boosts Disabled Vets Financial Stability

Sens. Thune, Schatz launch bill that would provide disabled veterans with a permanent COLA adjustment.

CMS Slates Next DME Open Door Forum

May 4 conference call will address various agenda items, including implementation of prior authorization.

Audit Key: MAC Prepayment Audits Averaged 12% for New Patients

First round of data from Fourth Quarter of 2015 yield a variety of results that take first step in documenting impact of audits on HME providers, patients.

Respiratory Groups Push for Ventilator Coverage Changes

Leading clinician groups submit reconsideration of current Medicare NCD for home ventilators, including bi-level devices, to CMS.

Accreditation and Audits

Two accreditation experts discuss the relationship between accreditation and audits.

Observation Deck

A Big Year for Audit Contractors

Providers will interact with a variety of Medicare audit contractors in 2016.

Audits

Business Solutions

Keeping Watch on Audits

Audits continue to play an unsavory role in the day-today lives of HME providers, and that role is one that is constantly shifting as HHS and its contractors emphasize different aspects of their program integrity efforts. We look at coming and developing trends in audits, and ask the experts how providers should plan and prepare.

Audit Key’s Date for Entering First Quarter Data Fast Approaching

Providers can submit their information into the special audit tracking program starting on April 15.



CMS Unveils Latest Round Two SPAs, Contract Offers

AAHomecare currently analyzing reimbursement cuts, but initial industry reaction is that the latest re-compete hits providers hard.

Editor's Note

More of a Bad Thing

The President's proposed 2017 budget doubles down on the wrong ideas.

AAHomecare to Detail Legislative, Regulatory Priorities

National HME association will outline its key advocacy objectives for the year at Medtrade Spring’s Washington Update.

Audit Key Extends Entry Deadline

Providers have until Feb. 26 to enter their fourth quarter audit data into the industry audit-tracking site.

CGS to Process Medicare Claims for Jurisdiction B

Transition slated for June 27 will see same contractor handling claims for Jurisdictions B and C.

VGM Insurance, AAHomecare Strike Pricing Deal

Insurance services provider and industry association partner to give AAHomcare members special rates on surety bonds and liability insurance.

Medtrade Spring Details Feb. 29 Workshops

Annual industry event will kick off with in-depth presentations covering DME certification, billing and A/R, sales, and a compression fitter’s course.

HME Spending Drops to 1.25% of Medicare Outlays

AAHomecare: While Medicare spending has skyrocketed since 2000, HME spending growth has remained flat.

Audit Key Goes Live

Providers urged to register for program that is collecting the hard data that will help make a strong case for reforming CMS’s audit program.

CMS Releases Prior Authorization Rule

Final rule would establish a prior auth. for certain DME items CMS considers frequently subject to unnecessary utilization.

HME Business Podcast