Tag: Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers (PAMS)

PHILADELPHIA - Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking a unique approach to addressing repair issues with two bills, HB 183 and SB 511, that would provide coverage for up to two “well check” visits per year for complex wheelchair users.  The bills would help address the difficulties that users are facing trying to get their wheelchairs serviced and repaired due to supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, documentation delays and inadequate reimbursement. In some states, like Colorado,...

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers (PAMS) has successfully exempted breast pumps from sales tax as part of HB 725, which was recently passed by the state’s General Assembly, AAHomecare reports. The elimination of the sales tax will be applicable to all retail sales of items initiating, supporting or sustaining breast feeding effective Jan. 1, 2022. “I am thankful that we are able to help provide some relief to our members, as this endeavor was delayed...

In Pennsylvania, AAHomecare is working with PAMS and other stakeholders to address concerns about Tomorrow Health. Tomorrow Health is performing double duty as a provider and a third-party administrator for Geisinger Health, raising concerns that the arrangement could impact patient choice and continuity of care for individuals covered under Geisinger’s Medicaid contract, as well as Medicare Advantage and commercial plans in the state. Providers in the state have seen a significant...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - HME providers and community pharmacists have continued to serve on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic - and like other health care providers, they want to be recognized for that. The National Community Pharmacists Association recently launched the “Essential” Campaign to keep up the pressure on lawmakers for relief, including hazard pay, says Douglas Hoey, CEO. “Pharmacists have been there since the beginning of this and we need recognition...

HARRISBURG, Pa. - With the departure of high-profile executive director John Shirvinsky in December and a game-changing state health program on the horizon, 2014 will not be a quiet year for the Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers (PAMS.)After a five-day retirement from Meadville, Pa.-based Vantage Home Medical Equipment and Services, longtime PAMS board member and past board chair Tom Sedlak took on the part time executive director position Jan. 6.His first order of business: a proposed...

It is with a great sense of sadness and profound loss that I advise you of the premature passing of our good friend Julie Sullivan. She is survived by her husband Michael and the joys of her life, her twin sons, William and James. She was 48 years old.Julie had a remarkably upbeat personality and her smile and laugh were contagious. She was a friend to everyone at PAMS and made everyone she ever met feel welcome.Julie was PAMS's very first full-time executive director, a post that she assumed shortly...

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers (PAMS) recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.The association's mission—to educate members and policymakers and fight for providers—hasn't changed much over the years, said John Shirvinsky, executive director.“If there's a difference at all, it's in the sense of urgency,” he said. “We've reached a time where financial resources are limited at both the state and federal level. And everybody is exploring...

I mentioned a while ago that I just received a fresh batch of DME data from CMS. As I was looking at this data, I thought it would be kind of fun to put together a little test. So here you go. Test your knowledge. The answers are at the bottom, but don't look! 1. If you expect to be able to battle competitive bidding and come out the other side, your company's EBITDA should be what? a. 50%   b. 12%   c. 8%   e. 25% 2. How many Medicare beneficiaries have...

I saw something last week that I'd never seen in all my 13 years at HME News: a highway billboard advertising AdvaCare Home Services, an HME company in Bridgeville, Pa. I spied the sign while driving from the Pittsburgh airport (I flew in from HME News' international headquarters in Yarmouth, Maine) to the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (PAMS). I can't remember exactly what the billboard said, but it was something like "Respiratory Therapists...

If you didn't listen to this morning's media conference call on national competitive bidding-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers (PAMS)-you missed out on one hell of a speaker in Lucy Spruill. Spruill is a wheelchair user and director of public policy and community relations for United Cerebral Palsy of Pittsburgh. She joined Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Jason Altmire, D-Pa., in criticizing competitive bidding. Here are some snippets of what she said: On reduced access: “(The...