Two Different Paths on Health Care

Thursday, October 4, 2012 Two Different Paths on Health Care  By Lisa Zamosky Last night’s debates confirmed that when it comes to the future of health care, President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney have very different views about the right path forward. Here are some highlights from last night. Obamacare vs. Romneycare Romney vowed once [...]

How Will Competitive Bidding For Medical Equipment Affect You?

Competitive bidding allows Medicare to award contracts for medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, power wheelchairs and oxygen to the provider with the lowest bids. This policy has the potential to create barriers to access, diminish quality, restrict choices and drive small providers out of business. Restricted provider access and choice will be the first thing [...]

FIMBA Adds Sponsors

FIMBA Adds Sponsors H.R. 1041’s Rep. Thompson rallies Washington Conference attendees to continue repeal bill’s momentum. By David Kopf Feb 21, 2012 While the industry hit Congress with the Market Pricing Program at the top of its agenda, Representative Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) called on providers attending the American Association for Homecare’s Washington Conference to also [...]

Congressman Jim Matheson visits UTMED to discuss Competitive Bidding and Audit Woes

Left to right: Kurt Walker, Tom Dye, Congressman Jim Matheson, Jay Broadbent, Brent Gardner On Tuesday this week, UTMED arranged for a visit from Congressman Jim Matheson to meet with members of the UTMED Board. UTMED Vice President Jay Broadbent from Alpine Home Medical and board members Kurt Walker from Mountain Valley Home Medical and [...]

CMS defines durability, industry awaits CBO score

CMS defines durability, industry awaits CBO score By Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor – 11.04.2011 WASHINGTON – CMS last week issued final rules related to durable medical equipment, including a finalized definition of “durability.” CMS originally proposed the defining “durability” as meeting a three-year minimum lifetime standard in the July 8 Federal Register. At the time, [...]

Durable Medical Equipment Is 1.4% of Total Medicare Spending–and Falling

The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro, Letter to Congress

Salt Lake City in line for round 2 of Competitive Bidding

It’s time to pull off the band-aid, eat our peas.

HME ‘Very, Very Vulnerable’ as Debt Talks Drag On Jul 12, 2011 12:03 PM WASHINGTON — As the Aug 2. debt ceiling deadline creeps closer, President Obama and congressional leaders continue to debate the issue, and industry stakeholders continue to watch and worry that cuts to HME remain on the table. A “grand” deal to [...]

Patients, Providers File CMS Bid Program Complaints

We have received hundreds of complaints about the Medicare “competitive” bidding program for home medical equipment (HME). This program is fatally flawed and unsustainable. The program is designed to eliminate more than 85 percent of HME providers in any area in which it is run, and patients are being harmed because they do not have [...]