Eight in 10 Americans Oppose Medicare Cuts to Home Health

More than eight in 10 registered voters support action to prevent cuts to Medicare Home Health, a recent national survey finds.  The cuts are estimated to directly affect more than one million seniors and nearly half a million home health professionals.  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed changes July 1 that would reduce […]

HME Industry Rallies Against Competitive Bidding

Home medical equipment (HME) providers say proposed changes to audit and competitive bidding programs for medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers should be implemented before the end of the year. As the August legislative recess is underway, industry stakeholders are voicing support for H.R. 5083, or the Medicare DMEPOS Audit Improvement and Reform (AIR) […]

Investigators Dismantle $60 Million Home Health, Pharmacy Fraud Ring

Federal investigators announced Friday the take down of a massive health care fraud scheme that involved more than $60 million of improper billing to Medicare and Medicaid and the convictions of 39 defendants in Michigan. Propagated by ringleader Babubhai Patel, 51, of Canton, Mich., the scheme involved 26 pharmacies, nine doctors and several home health […]

Study: Home-Based Care Leads to Less Pressure on Medicare

Home-based primary care (HBPC) reduces Medicare costs for ill seniors, a new report finds.  A HBPC model led to 17% lower total Medicare costs over two years based on the study’s elderly participants, according to the report “Effects of Home- Based Primary Care on Medicare Costs in High-Risk Elders,” published in the The Journal of American Geriatrics […]

Miami Woman Bilks Medicare Out of $74 Million in Home Health Fraud Scheme

A Miami resident who owned a home health care company and was the administrator of another pleaded guilty for her involvement in a $74 million Medicare fraud scheme. Elsa Ruiz, 45, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke to one count of conspiracy to commit heath care fraud. According to court documents, Ruiz […]

Couple Arrested in $800,000 Home Health Fraud Scheme

An Illinois couple has been arrested and charged with several counts of health care fraud after allegedly bilking Medicare for more than $800,000 and paying kickbacks for referrals of Medicare patients.  John Yousefzai and Armanouhi Arzomanian owned and operated Medicose Home Health Care Service, Inc., which employed physicians and provided in-home medical services to patients.  […]