No Wheels, No Problem: Uber Expands into Senior-Friendly Ride Services

Seniors and people with disabilities can now benefit from Uber’s carriage services in one more U.S. city with the company’s newly expanded ride platform that launched this week. Tuesday, the more than $18 billion San Francisco-based ride service company announced San Diego is the latest city to provide transportation services specifically for the elderly and […]

Home Care Leaders to CMS: Bidding Program ‘Profoundly Flawed’

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is pushing a “profoundly flawed” system through its proposed changes to the durable medical equipment orthotics, prosthetics and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program, the American Association for Homecare writes in a recent letter to the agency. CMS’ proposed rule seeks to use single payment amounts (SPAs) from […]

Invacare Restructuring Plan Calls for 190 Workforce Cuts

Invacare Corporation (NYSE: IVC), a global manufacturer and distributor of home and long-term care medical equipment, announced a restructuring plan Wednesday that calls for workforce cuts of up to 190 associates and expected savings in the ballpark of up to $15 million. The restructuring plan of the Elyria, Ohio-based Invacare includes a reduction to the […]

CMS Announces Round 2 Re-Compete for DME Bidding Program

Last week, CMS announced plans to re-compete the supplier contracts awarded in Round 2 of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. By law, CMS is required to re-compete contracts under the DMEPOS bidding program at least once every three years. Under the program, DMEPOS providers bid against each […]

CMS Proposal Would Cut $7 Billion in DMEPOS Payments

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule that would cut Medicare reimbursements for durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) by more than $7 billion from 2016 to 2020.  The proposed rule would create significant changes to Medicare coverage and payment policies for DMEPOS, including a methodology for adjusting […]

Southern California Man Sentenced 10 Years for $1.5 Million DME Fraud

A Southern California man was sentenced this week to serve 121 months in prison for his role in a durable medical equipment (DME) fraud scheme, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Monday. Vahe Tahmasian, 36, of Glendale, California, was found guilty by a federal jury on March 21, 2014 for his involvement in a […]

Federal Judge Rules Breach of Contract in DME Bidding Suit

Medical supply company CardioSom, LLC has prevailed in its lawsuit against the U.S. government, paving the way for some 300 other providers to follow suit, HME News reports.  Chief Judge Patricia Campbell-Smith of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims recently ruled that the government was in breach of contract when it rescinded contracts in the original […]

House Reps Introduce New Bill to Correct DME Competitive Bidding

A bi-partisan bill introduced this week by two members of the U.S. House of Representatives aims to correct what some believe to be a crucial flaw in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment (DME).  H.R. 4920, the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Improvement Act of 2014, would make […]

AAHomecare Embarks on Medicare Audit Tracking System for HME Providers

The American Association for Homecare is moving forward with its campaign to track the impact of Medicare audits on providers of home medical equipment (HME) through its Audit Key initiative. The HME Audit Key was born out of the need to develop a system that shows lawmakers in Washington the affects audits have on HME […]

Senators’ Letter Pushes Against DME Competitive Bidding Round 2

A bipartisan letter from 36 U.S. Senators is calling for the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to hold off on expanding the agency’s competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment. Led by Sens. John Thune (R-SD), Robert Casey (D-PA) and John Hoeven (R-ND), the letter urges CMS to halt the expansion of the […]