The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Dec. 14 that it is proposing to change its national coverage determination (NCD) to include payment for CPAP equipment when the sleep apnea diagnosis is based on results from home sleep testing (HST).
Kids need to move. Movement is the way they learn, the way they gain strength, the way they explore their environments and grow, physically and intellectually. That’s true for children in wheelchairs, too.
- By Laurie Watanabe
- Jan 07, 2008
Welcome to the premiere issue of HME Business, a natural evolution of Home Health Products. It’s 2008, and the HME landscape is a lot different than it was in 1992, when we began publishing a product tabloid. These are changing times for the HME industry, and just as providers and manufacturers are having to redefine their businesses, we are redefining ours to better support your business in this brave new world.
Member Service Group Touts e-Solutions, Purchasing Power… & No Fees
- By Laurie Watanabe
- Jan 07, 2008
As part of their efforts to streamline operations for the reduced reimbursement/competitive bid environment, many successful DME suppliers are reducing the number of vendors from which they buy. As part of your action plan for early 2008, you may want to investigate how consolidating the purchasing of a wide assortment of products through a wholesale distributor can help you serve more customers more profitably.
- By Steven E. Cole
- Jan 07, 2008
From Operations to Accreditation to Cost Control, Get Started Now on 2008 Business Plans
How to Select the Right Software for Your Business
- By Elisha Bury
- Jan 07, 2008
Facing the diagnosis of COPD is only one of several factors that oxygen users have to endure. For many, there’s a sense of claustrophobia in using the equipment.
Power Chair Review Results -- TriCenturion, the Jurisdiction A/B DME Program Safeguard Contractor, announced that during the first quarter of its widespread pre-payment review, it denied 89.75 percent of K0823 power chair claims in Jurisdiction A and 88.73 percent of K0823 claims in Jurisdiction B.
Evaluating Delivery and Non-Delivery. In evaluating the differences of delivery vs. non-delivery oxygen systems, Bob McCoy of Valley Inspired Products, not only addresses the important service component in providing oxygen therapy, but also emphasizes the need for providers to document the benefits and positive client outcomes in order to help make the case for service to be reimbursed.
Legal Speak
Those outside the industry might characterize 2007 as the year of DME waste, fraud and abuse. Anyone who has not worked with legitimate DME suppliers could be excused for arriving at that conclusion given the unremitting focus on fraudulent DME suppliers throughout 2007.
- By Asela Cuervo
- Jan 01, 2008
Results of Wachovia Sleep Survey Show Expected Growth in Market and Reveal Insight into Providers' Views on Home Sleep Testing
When we set out to find the top 10 HME niches to watch in 2008, our goal was to uncover the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth — which means these 10 product categories (listed in random order) were chosen for a variety of reasons: In-home sleep testing; power chairs; oxygen; lighter automotive accessibility; CPAPs; home and environmental accessibility; pulse oximeters; manual wheelchairs; retail/cash sales; and bariatrics.
Editor's Note
- By Elisha Bury
- Jan 01, 2008
Respiratory Management celebrates the pioneers of technology with a spread that unites recent history and history in the making. RM talked to product managers, respiratory providers, therapists and industry experts to determine which products have made an undeniable impact on industry trends and patient outcomes — and collected the hottest products for the coming year.
- By Elisha Bury
- Jan 01, 2008
The sleep market is still going strong, and CPAP pricing is currently stable, but reimbursement rates for HME suppliers could be hurt by the upcoming national competitive bidding (NCB) program, say the results of the latest Wachovia HME Sleep & Wound Care Survey. Findings also included expected growth in the negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) market.
Member Service Group Touts e-Solutions, Purchasing Power… & No Fees
Funding Focus
Medicare has repeatedly changed the coverage guidelines for aerosolized medications, and did so again July 1, 2007.
- By Kelly Riley
- Jan 01, 2008
For years now, diabetes educators have touted the power of glucose monitors to help people with diabetes manage their condition. So, it only makes sense that a similar device for oxygen users should make its way to the forefront.
- By Elisha Bury
- Jan 01, 2008
The HME industry, and the oxygen niche in particular, suffered a tough couple of weeks in the mainstream media, as The New York Times printed what was widely regarded by the industry as a derogatory, politically motivated article on Nov. 30. Then “NBC Nightly News” aired a two-part special report on Medicare fraud on Dec. 10 and 11.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have set the deadline for DME suppliers to be accredited in order to bill Medicare Part B: Sept. 30, 2009. The announcement came at a Special Open Door Forum on Dec. 19.
Long-time trade publication editor David Kopf has joined HME Business to lead editorial efforts of the newly launched publication, as well as its web site.