Tag: Payment

WASHINGTON – CMS has established a higher rate of $750 to administer monoclonal antibody treatment to Medicare beneficiaries with COVID-19 in their homes, including permanent residences or temporary lodgings.  The new rate accounts for the increased costs associated with the one-on-one nature of this care model and reflects additional information provided to CMS about providing these services in a safe and timely manner.  “CMS’s...

WASHINGTON - CMS needs to move away from the gap-fill methodology and develop an alternative payment system, AAHomecare urges in comments to a recent proposed rule on innovation and technology. The association says a new payment system would ensure appropriate payment and access, should a device receive approval under the proposed “Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology” (MCIT). CMS has proposed MCIT as a streamlined pathway for “FDA-designated breakthrough...

  Dan_Fedor.jpg Many Medicare beneficiaries are being enticed by celebrities on TV to select a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan over original Medicare fee for service (FSS) with all the standard benefits of Medicare at a lower out-of-pocket cost. These plans often state they provide additional benefits, such as gym memberships, transportation and eyeglasses, so how can they provide more benefits with a lower cost? Seems too good to be true, doesn't it? How can these private,...

WASHINGTON - Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., has sent a letter to the Veterans Benefits Administrator expressing his concerns about delayed payments to providers that perform VA-authorized installations, repairs and maintenance of automobile adaptive equipment (AAE). Gallego expressed concerns over reports of thousands of past-due reimbursement invoices totaling more than $34 million between 2010-15. “This is causing serious operational and payroll issues at businesses that cannot afford to be...

MIDDLEBURGH HEIGHTS, Ohio - Miguel Semidey has opened a retail store here called CPAP EquipSource to sell CPAP machines, masks, nebulizers, supplies, POCs and more to cash-paying customers, according to cleveland.com. “Right now, we're trying to attract that out-of-pocket customer who doesn't want to deal with an insurance company,” he told the website. “A lot of patients, for whatever reason, don't have options. They come to us and see different options in person, as...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A proposed rule published last week fails to address a “deeply flawed policy” that reimburses home infusion services only on days when a nurse is present in the patient's home, says the National Home Infusion Association. “This policy fundamentally misunderstands how home infusion is delivered, could jeopardize patient safety and creates barriers that have already inhibited patient access to these services,” said Logan Davis, PharmD, chairman of NHIA's board...

MINNETONKA, Minn. - An alternative to CPAP therapy has been approved by CMS for a new technology add-on payment to hospitals. The NTAP program will provide additional reimbursement on top of the standard Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group payment to hospitals under the Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective System for Respicardia's remedē System, an implantable device that treats the effects of central sleep apnea by restoring a more normal breathing patter during sleep. The add-on payment...

CLEVELAND  - CareMotion, a growing online retailer of home medical equipment, has launched a virtual shopping assistant designed to eliminate the pain points associated with online purchases. The assistant asks customers to enter basic health and fitness information, allowing it to recommend the best products to fit their needs. “All of us at Care Motion are advocates for helping seniors enjoy a higher quality of life while living at home, independently," said Aaron Cavano, president....

OLD FORGE, Pa. - Golden Technologies has partnered with CareCredit to offer its dealers a new financing solution, the lift chair manufacturer announced Sept. 6. Through the partnership, dealers can now offer their customers a dedicated line of credit to pay for costs not covered by insurance. Financing offered through CareCredit can span six, 12 or 18 months, with dealers receiving payment in just two days, according to a press release. “We are excited about this strategic relationship with...

LAS VEGAS - HME companies are a legitimate care provider in the post-acute spectrum and partnering with health systems and hospitals represents a viable new business model for them, says Cheryl London, director of clinical operations for Crown Point, Ind.-based HealthCall. London will explore how HME companies can insert themselves into the post-acute landscape and secure financially sound relationships with acute care organizations in her Medtrade Spring 2017 session “Adopting New HME Revenue...