AAHomecare Merges with DME Association

The American Association for Homecare and the Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of America (AMEPA) announced yesterday that they have reached an agreement to merge their organizations. The merger will maintain the AAHomecare name and continue to do business at 1701 L Street NW, Suite 350, Washington, D.C. As part of the merger, AMEPA President Rob […]

Allstate Files $6.6 Million Fraud Lawsuit Against 47 DME Providers

Allstate Insurance Company is seeking to recover $6.6 million in treble damages against 47 New York durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers and their respective individual owners in the company’s 4th insurance fraud lawsuit of 2013.  The lawsuit alleges that these 47 DME providers—31 retail and 16 wholesale companies—submitted or facilitated the submission of fraudulent billing […]

CMS Delays DME Face-to-Face Rule

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that it will be delaying the face-to-face rule regarding its durable medical equipment (DME) reimbursement program effective July 1, reports HomeCare Mag.  The three-month extension moves the deadline to October 1, and according to the American Association for Homecare, the delay will allow DME providers […]

CMS Drops a Third of Tenn. DME Providers After Licensing Issues

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) dropped nearly a third of durable home equipment (DME) suppliers from participating in Round 2 of its competitive bidding program, leaving even fewer providers for Tennessee beneficiaries, according to an article from The Tennessean. The 30 out-of-state contracts were voided because the DME providers that had won […]

Competitive Bidding Round 2 Draws DME Non-Compliance

On the heels of an announcement last week that Tennessee providers of durable medical equipment (DME) are skirting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Competitive Bidding rules, such non-compliance appears to be a nationally widespread issue. Medicare mandates that DME providers who have submitted bids for Round 2 of the bid program are […]

Sinfonia Acquires Fourth Home Health Company

Sinfonia HealthCare Corp., a new home health delivery system launched by former Providence CEO Fletcher McCusker and backed by Alliance Bank, recently announced its fourth acquisition in Tucson of a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier. AirVida is a Tucson, Ariz.-based oxygen and pulmonary supply company formed in 2009 that serves Southern Arizona. The acquisition price […]

Home Health Providers Launch New Services To Survive CMS Cuts

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Competitive Bidding program has stirred anxiety in the home health industry, as Round 2 of the program’s 45% reimbursement cuts threaten to squeeze a number of durable medical equipment (DME) providers out of business. To weather the storm, some providers are launching new service offerings to their current […]

CMS Deadline Approaches for Grandfathering DME Suppliers

Durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers without a contract from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have until May 20, 2013 to send notifications to the Medicare beneficiaries they serve regarding their decision to be a grandfathered supplier for clients who live in a competitive bidding area and are currently renting competitively-bid DME. “Non-contract […]

CMS Warns Beneficiaries of DME Provider Change

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began sending emails last week to notify patients of the impending Round 2 of its Competitive Bidding program. CMS also sent emails to providers of home medical equipment (HME), notifying them that the agency would also be reaching out to patients, HME Business reports. The messages describe […]

Anti-Competitive DME Bidding Bill Gaining Momentum, Sponsors Increase

The bill that would put an end to Round 2 of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Competitive Bidding program has been gaining momentum in the House. Only two weeks after its introduction by Rep. Tom Price, M.D. (R-Ga.) and Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), H.R. 1717 has garnered the support of 19 House […]