March Archives
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Best Wishes to Former Rep. Dave Loebsack: A True HME Industry Champion
March 31, 2021
Categories: General
Over the past 8 years, Rep. Dave Loebsack was the lead Democrat on many HME related bills; all having to do with accessibility to quality products and services, increasing reimbursement rates, and decreasing regulatory burdens for HME providers. When our team needed him, he was always there. His staff was forever attentive to our issues. In 2019, Dave announced that he was not going to be running for U.S. Congress. This was news felt by the whole HME industry. He was always willing to venture...
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Temporary Claims Hold Pending Congressional Action
March 30, 2021
CMS released information today regarding a temporary claims hold pending congressional action to extend 2% sequester reduction suspension. It appears the pause that is in place on the sequestration may be extended, however, there may be some delay in paying claims. Keep reading here.
Questions? Please contact Ronda Buhrmester.
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President Biden Signs the SAVES LIVES Act
March 26, 2021
Earlier this week President Joe Biden signed the SAVES LIVES Act into law which allows the VA to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans, their spouses and caregivers. This act removed some prior legal limits the VA can provide to Veterans based on health care eligibility and priority groups. Vaccinations will still be priortized based on vaccine availability and Veterans enrolled in VA care.
For more information, read the full press release from the Office of Public and Intergovernmental...
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Senate Passes Delay of Medicare Sequestration Cuts
March 25, 2021
Categories: General
Today the Senate voted to delay Medicare payment cuts for the rest of the year, a big win for HME providers and hospitals!
The 2% cuts originally took effect in 2013 but were paused by Congress last year in response to the pandemic and its effect on providers' finances.
This legislation now will head back to the House for passage...
Read MoreVGM Meets with Providers and Legislators in Ohio and Kentucky
March 25, 2021
Categories: General
On the week of March 15, VGM’s John Gallagher traveled to Kentucky and Ohio to discuss durable medical equipment related topics with members of Congress.
On March 18, Gallagher accompanied KMESA member, Thad Connally of First Choice Home Medical LLC, to a meeting with staff from Rep. Brett Guthrie’s office in Bowling Green. Rep. Guthrie sits on the Energy and Commerce committee of the U.S. House. A key talking point of the meeting was to address supplier needs in rural region...
Read MoreAsk Your Senators to Support the Medicare Sequestration Relief S.748
March 23, 2021
Please take action today by reaching out to your Senators asking them to support S.748 - Medicare Sequestration Relief.
If you recall late last year, legislation passed to extend the 2% sequestration relief to March 31, 2021 - that’s next week!
Congress passed H.R.1868 last week to continue the pause of the 2% Medicare sequestration cuts through the duration of the public health emergency, but we need it to make it through the Senate too.
So please...
Read MoreSenate Confirms Next Health and Human Services Secretary
March 19, 2021
On Thursday, March 18th, the senate confirmed Xavier Becerra as the next secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services. Becerra has held judicial and legislative positions in California, serving as the attorney general of the state and holding congressional office in three different districts. He will be replacing Alex Azar, who held the position from 2018 to 2021.Read more
CMS Releases New Fee Schedule with Increased Oxygen Rates Effective April 1, 2021
March 17, 2021
Categories: CMS, General, Reimbursement
Effective for claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021, the fee schedule amounts for HCPCS codes E0424, E0431, E0433, E0434, E0439, E0441, E0442, E0443, E0444, E0447, E1390, E1391, E1392, E1405, E1406, and K0738 are adjusted to remove a percentage reduction that was put in place to meet the budget neutrality requirement previously mandated by section 1834(a)(9)(D)(ii) of the Social Security Act. These new rates are not retroactive; they will only be effective for dates of service... Read MoreChanges Made to PPP and EIDL Programs by $1.9T American Rescue Plan
March 17, 2021
Categories: COVID-19, General, Paycheck Protection Program, PPP
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Changes
The newly passed $1.9T American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 included some changes to two very popular SBA programs; the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. While the new bill allocates a relatively small amount of NEW money to the PPP ($7.25 billion in additional funding) when compared to previous bills, it does bring in some new businesses that may not have been eligible previously. The American Rescue... Read MoreVlog: 2021 Fee Schedule Revisions
March 15, 2021
Categories: CMS, General, Reimbursement
In this vlog, Ronda Buhrmester outlines what you need to know about the corrections made to the new DME fee schedule. Watch below!
Noridian Reprocessing Update for Jurisdictions A and D: I have been notified that all you should have to do for reprocessing of the claims impacted by the January 1, 2021 fee schedule errors is call the contact center and provide your PTAN(s) with a request for... Read More