On June 25, 2013, the Senate Committee on Finance heard testimony from hospital representatives and a recovery audit contractor (RAC) representative regarding burdensome audit procedures. RACs were created to identify improper payments made to Medicare Parts A and B...
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Stay informed with Medbill’s blog, where we share expert guidance, practical tips, and industry updates to help DME providers navigate the industry’s complexities.
Regulations
OIG to CMS: Rein in CPAP supplies
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recommends that CMS review and revise the replacement schedule for CPAP supplies in a report published today (June 26). The OIG studied the replacement schedules of 50 fee-for-service state Medicaid programs and found that 39% had...
CMS Refuses Round 2 Competitive Bid Delay
After receiving a letter from 227 lawmakers calling for CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner to delay implementation of Round Two of competitive bidding due to various problems found with winning bidders, CMS will not implement an administrative delay of Round Two of...
CMS Announces Required Formatting of Hospice, Long-term Care Partner Contracts
Long-term care providers will need to draw up a strictly formatted contract with their hospice care partners, according to a final rule released Thursday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The regulation clarifies the details of each contract and is...
CMS Announces Additional Time to Establish Face-to-Face Protocols for DME
CMS has advised Congress of the following change to the Face-to-face rule set to go into effect on July 1st Due to concerns that some providers and suppliers may need additional time to establish operational protocols necessary to comply with face-to-face encounter...
Reality Check: Competitive Bidding Program Myths Versus Facts
The Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Myths Versus Facts Reality Check Recently CMS released a document titled "The Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Programs: Myths vs. Facts". This document outlined what CMS described as "Myths" of the...
Medicare Faulted for not Tracking Suspicious Prescribers
More than 700 doctors nationwide wrote prescriptions for elderly and disabled patients in highly questionable and potentially harmful ways, according to a critical report of Medicare's drug program released yesterday. The review by the inspector general of the U.S....
Medicare Coverage of Obesity Treatments on Horizon while Reimbursement for Sleep Therapy Shrinks
Just as Medicare and CMS are cutting reimbursement as much as 75% on Durable Medical Equipment Services and Products U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy filed legislation to make some weight-loss prescription drugs and treatments available to residents through the federal Medicare...
AAHomecare and DME Provider File Suit Against CMS Official Over Competitive Bidding
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare), along with a home medical equipment provider from Maryland, announced today the filing of a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., asking that the scheduled July 1 expansion of the Medicare competitive...
CMS Disqualifies some Contract Suppliers in Tennessee
CMS has disqualified about one-third of the contract suppliers that planned to serve Medicare beneficiaries in Tennessee as part of competitive bidding because they don’t meet state licensure requirements, according to the Tennessean. CMS Administrator Marilyn...
PAMS Response to Washington Post Editorial on Competitive Bidding
The Washington Post ran an editorial in the paper’s Sunday edition on June 16th encouraging CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner to implement the Round 2 program. The Article can be viewed at www.washingtonpost.com. PAMS Executive Director, John Shirvinsky, posted the...
Reminder: Face-to-Face Requirements take Effect July 1st
Beginning July 1st, physicians must document a face-to-face encounter exam with a beneficiary in the six months prior to the written orders of certain items of DME. According to the NHIC Corp., this section will not apply to power mobility devices, as they are covered...