Users of durable medical equipment (DME) have called upon a home health advocacy group in their efforts to voice hardships caused by the latest round of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Competitive Bidding program. Round 2 of CMS’s Competitive Bidding Program went into effect July 1, 2013, and since then more than […]
Category: Medicare
In the wake of the government shutdown that left many government agencies under capacity for 16 days, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced this week it will be postponing the release of its Home Health Prospective Payment System Final Rule until “on or before” November 27. The rule will take effect January 1, […]
Lawmakers aim to limit Medicare payments for home health agencies that have, on, average, a higher number of episodes of care, according to a recently proposed bill from the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill, H.R. 3245, was introduced by Congressmen Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Jim Matheson (D-UT), who both serve on the Committee, […]
A Wisconsin county’s home health care services may get discontinued by the middle of next year in an effort to save up to $200,000 a year, reports the La Crosse Tribune. The La Crosse County Health Department is looking into phasing out its services, which are not being fully reimbursed by state and federal programs. “The […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on Oct. 1 the single payment amounts for Round 1 Recompete of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. Payment amounts for DME will decrease by a projected 37%, on average, from Medicare’s fee schedule rates across the six categories included […]
Nearly 150 House Representatives have sent a letter to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing concern regarding proposed cuts to Medicare home health reimbursements and how they could affect patient access to skilled home health care. The 142 bipartisan lawmakers signed a Sept. 25 letter urging CMS to conduct a complete analysis […]
Concerned that a report to Congress last week on the future of long-term care did not address key issues for ensuring long-term services and supports, Long-Term Care Commission members submitted an alternative report that underscores caregiver protections and access to home health care as viable solutions. Among people now turning age 65, an estimated three […]
Claiming wrongful termination of their Medicare billing privileges, two Texas-based home health agencies filed a class action lawsuit against a Medicare contractor and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Houston home health agencies Oakwest Healthcare Services Inc. and CJN Home Health Services Inc. claim that Medicare administrative contractor Palmetta GBA LLC and HHS […]
The former owner and operator of Los Angeles-based GreatCare Home Health Agency has been ordered to pay up to the tune of nearly $15 million—approximately three times the losses suffered by Medicare as a result of the agency’s illegal practices. Hee Jung Mun, the home health agency’s owner, was issued a $14.9 million default judgment […]
Trade groups representing the home health industry are voicing support for several aspects of the Commission on Long-Term Care’s final report to Congress, which includes a recommendation that would expand access to Medicare coverage for home care. The vision of the bipartisan, federally-appointed long-term care panel is to create “a more responsive, integrated, person-centered, and […]
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