Early results of a July survey from the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) showed that home medical equipment (HME) businesses have been deeply wounded since the January expiration of the 75/25 funding relief rate. In a July 24 update to stakeholders, AAHomecare shared a sampling of comments from the 121 HME suppliers who took the…
Early AAHomecare Survey Results Reveal Funding Cuts Are ‘Devastating’ HME
DME MACs to Allow More Flexibility for MWC Home Assessments
Starting in July, “indirect” home assessments will be allowed for Medicare manual wheelchair claims.
The Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs) have revised their home assessment requirement for manual wheelchairs provided to Medicare beneficiaries. Starting July 1, 2024, the DME MACs will allow home assessments to be “indirectly” obtained by the supplier who is providing the manual wheelchair. The DME MACs plan to remove the following from…
CMS Raises CRT Seat Elevation Medicare Allowable by $13.62
Joel Kaiser, director of the division of DMEPOS policy, responded to NCART’s recalculation request.
The Medicare allowable for seat elevation on a Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) power chair is getting a very modest increase. In a June 25 bulletin, the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) said it had been notified that the allowable for HCPCS code E2298 — Complex rehabilitative power wheelchair accessory, power seat elevation…
ReWalk Robotics Lauds Medicare Allowable for Personal Exoskeletons
The final payment rate affects claims with dates of service on or after April 1.
ReWalk Robotics Ltd. (DBA: Lifeward) is lauding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to provide Medicare coverage for personal exoskeletons. In an April 12 announcement, ReWalk — which manufactures the ReWalk personal exoskeleton and the ReStore Exo-Suit, among other rehabilitation products — said, “The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has officially…
Briefly: Medtrade Announces Attendance; Medicare Seat Elevation Coverage Now in Effect
Featuring Medtrade, NCART, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medtrade Reports Robust Growth in Dallas Attendance at Medtrade, held March 26-28 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, grew by double digits, event officials said in a March 28 news announcement. “This year’s Medtrade attracted more than 2,300 qualified attendees,” Kerry Tyler, Medtrade’s associate show director, said. “That’s an increase of almost…
CMS to Allow Advance DME Payments Following Change Healthcare Cyberattack
Medicare announcement is an attempt to preserve health cash flows for health-care providers.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will consider advance payments to Part B suppliers experiencing disruption in claims payments after a cyberattack on Change Healthcare in late February. CMS announced the plan to accelerate payments on March 9. On its website, Change Healthcare, part of UnitedHealth Group, said it discovered the cyberattack on…
Briefly: NCART Hires Marketing Veteran; Noridian Wins Jurisdiction D Re-Award
Featuring the National Coalition of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers and Noridian Healthcare Solutions.
Barry Steelman to Lead NCART Marketing, Communication Efforts NCART has hired marketing and Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) industry veteran Barry Steelman to lead the organization’s marketing and communications campaigns. Steelman entered the CRT industry in 2001, when he became Permobil’s marketing manager. He has also served as director of marketing for Stealth Products, and now,…
CMS Confirms Existing Medicare Funding Amounts for Dynamic Backs
The industry argued that dynamic backs are not comparable to wheelchair suspension systems.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has stated that existing Medicare reimbursement for dynamic wheelchair backrests is appropriate based on its analysis. That decision was part of the CMS Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II Final Coding, Benefit Category and Payment Determinations, Second Biannual 2023 HCPCS Coding Cycle, released at the…
CMS Issues Final Coding, Benefit Category, Payment Determinations for Seat Elevation
New coding will go into effect in April.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its final coding, benefit category, and payment determinations for seat elevation on power wheelchairs. The determinations were included as part of CMS’s Second Biannual 2023 HCPCS Coding Cycle. CMS said new coding actions would be effective starting April 1, 2024, unless otherwise noted. CRT industry…
Commentary: CRT’s Uniqueness Is Still a Mystery
The failure to truly understand the complexity of seating clients could hurt access.
I attended the Nov. 30 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) second biannual HCPCS Coding Cycle public meeting for the discussion about coding and reimbursement for power seat elevation. That part of the meeting lasted nearly two hours. Here’s my takeaway: The unique nature of Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) is still not wholly understood…