Tag: Enteral Nutrition

YARMOUTH, Maine – Abbott will increase production of several adult enteral formulas in the retail market to offset low supplies in the institutional market, but providers worry that won’t be enough if a shortage drags on.  In September, Abbott said it would make Ensure Original Vanilla with Fiber, Ensure Plus Vanilla with Fiber and Nepro Vanilla available for institutional use – and at comparable pricing.   “It looks like they heard our concerns,”...

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has transformed the results of its nationwide surveys on cost increases for ostomy, urological, wound care and enteral nutrition providers into infographics that can be shared with payers and policymakers. “I encourage all AAH members to get involved with AAH initiatives, as I’ve seen first-hand the impact we can have on the HME industry by working together on developing advocacy tools to help educate payers on the importance of having sustainable reimbursement...

WASHINGTON – So many payers don’t understand the day-to-day realities of providing medical supplies that it’s up to the HME industry to tell its story and ensure end users don’t lose access, say stakeholders.  AAHomecare in March launched two nationwide surveys – enteral (enteral nutrition, pumps, kits, and/or supplies) and supplies (wound care, ostomy, and/or urological supplies) – to gather information on the rising costs that providers face.  “If...

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare is launching two nationwide surveys to gather intel on the rising costs of products, shipping and labor for those providing disposable medical supplies.  The association will use aggregated data from the surveys in its advocacy efforts.  “AAHomecare’s Medical Supplies Council is acutely focused on issues impacting the disposable supplies space and wants to empower the industry with data and tools that can be leveraged to educate payers on...

WASHINGTON – Medicare’s bid surety bond requirement did not have a negative impact on small supplier participation in Round 2021 of the competitive bidding, says the Government Accountability Office in a new report.  For the report, “Effect of New Bid Surety Bond Requirement on Small Supplier Participation in the Competitive Bidding Program,” the GAO reviewed CMS’ data on supplier bids and contracts, and interviewed two DME trade organizations, including AAHomecare,...

AMBLER, Pa. – Simplex Health, a provider of medical nutrition therapies, and Axia Women’s Health, an independent women’s health group, have expanded their partnership to support gestational diabetes patients across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. As Axia’s trusted partner, Simplex will support gestational diabetes patients by offering nutrition counseling to lower glucose and insulin levels, manage carbohydrate and sugar intake, and more. Simplex will...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The DME MACs will retire their local coverage determinations for parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition effective Nov. 12, according to the National Home Infusion Association. The NHIA commends the move, saying the LCDs for parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition “cause delays in access to care for Medicare beneficiaries with gastrointestinal disabilities and are administratively burdensome for hospitals, physicians and home infusion pharmacies,” the association...

WASHINGTON - The Healthcare Nutrition Council is one of the four organizations behind the industry's competitive bidding education website, www.dmecbpeducation.com. Here's what Madeline Jurch, senior government affairs manager for the HNC, which represents manufacturers of enteral and parenteral nutrition solutions, supplies and equipment, had to say about why the organization is helping the industry educate providers about national competitive bidding and, simultaneously, pushing back against the...

MINNEAPOLIS - After serving a “sliver” of western Wisconsin for years, Pediatric Home Service will open its doors to the entire state from its new location in Milwaukee.“We are pretty connected with the healthcare community there and we've heard over the years, 'Please come in and offer more services,'” said Mark Hamman, president. “We felt it was the right time to make the move and we will continue to work with payer sources and the state Medicaid program to expand...

WASHINGTON - Round 2 of Medicare's competitive bidding program does not appear to have impacted access to oxygen or enteral supplies for most beneficiaries, according to two new reports from the Office of Inspector General.The OIG analyzed claims data from three months before and six months after the July 1, 2013, kick-off of the program in both CBAs and non-CBAs.For oxygen, the OIG found that Medicare payments continued for 86% of beneficiaries in CBAs and 89% of beneficiaries in non-CBAs. Those...