April Archives

This week HHS opened a new portal which allows providers, including DME providers, to submit claims to be reimbursed at Medicare reimbursement rates if they provided equipment and services to uninsured patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis. Some key highlights and provisions of the program are as follows:

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been the subject of criticism since the initial $349B pool of money associated with the program was exhausted in just 2 weeks, and details emerged regarding large, publicly traded companies receiving millions of dollars in loans through the program. There are several examples of public companies with substantial market value and access to capital markets applying and being approved for PPP loans. The criticism of the program led Treasury Secretary Steven...

HHS has begun distributing the remaining $20 billion of the $50 billion general distribution to Medicare providers to augment providers’ allocations so that the whole $50 billion general distribution is allocated proportional to providers' share of 2018 net patient revenue. Medicare providers for whom HHS did not have adequate cost report data on file will need to submit their revenue information to the General Distribution Portal to be able to receive additional general distribution...

Today the House overwhemlingly passed the $484 billion agreement to deliver more pandemic aid to small businesses and hospitals, in addition to federal, state and local coronavirus testing. The President is expected to sign the bill either tonight or tomorrow.

Specifics:

ATHOMES and ACMESA members: Join our webinar on Thursday, April 23 at 2 p.m. CT!

There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic will change healthcare, and life in general, for the entire country. How does the DME industry phase into the new normal? Please join us for this ATHOMES and ACMESA members-only webinar presented by the VGM Government Relations team.

Mark Higley will speak about the states that are beginning to open up for business, what to expect, and what steps...

Within the home medical equipment community, we must make decisions based on many factors including knowledge, experience, and good judgment.  

We have the knowledge and good judgement, and we have experience based on our daily activity and time in the industry. But we are lacking experience at this time in the history of our industry because of the public health emergency (PHE). We are learning as we go and adapting to the rapid changes.

We gain knowledge when...

As most DMEPOS suppliers are likely aware, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continues its distribution of $30 billion in funds from the $100 billion Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. Many have received their payments. For those who have questions about their payments, please call 877-842-3210 and choose option 7. You will be asked to provide your Tax ID number, and...