Telehealth proved its efficacy during the heart of the COVID-19 public health emergency, when hospitals and clinics sharply limited in-person appointments, but wheelchairs and seating provision for Medicare beneficiaries still needed to move forward. The telehealth option isn’t the answer in every situation: It’s not a good fit where internet connections are unreliable or when…
Telehealth Update: Industry Organizations Comment on Latest Extension, 2025 Wins
Medicare Claims on Hold as Government Shuts Down, Telehealth Flexibilities End
As the government shut down Oct. 1, pre-pandemic Medicare telehealth policies resumed.
As the federal government shut down on Oct. 1 due to lack of funding, Noridian Healthcare Solutions — the DME MAC for Jurisdiction A — sent out a reminder to stakeholders that Medicare claims would be put on hold. “When certain legislative payment provisions (“extenders”) are scheduled to expire, CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid…
AAHomecare: Proposed Rule’s Competitive Bidding Plan an ‘Asteroid’ Heading for DME Industry
CMS is taking public comments on its proposed Medicare competitive bidding process till Aug. 29.
The home health proposed rule’s plans for the resumption of Medicare competitive bidding for durable medical equipment (DME) is an “asteroid” whose impact would be devastating for home medical equipment (HME) providers and the patients they support. Tom Ryan, the CEO/president for the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare), made that comment during an Aug. 6…
United Spinal Reacts to Proposed Medicaid Cuts, Urges Stakeholders to Act
The Congressional Budget Office said the so-called “one big, beautiful bill” would cut $715 billion from Medicaid over the next 10 years.
United Spinal Association is urging stakeholders to act swiftly to prevent sweeping Medicaid cuts that are part of the Trump administration’s so-called “one big, beautiful bill” that advanced out of the budget committee on Sunday night, May 18, according to a report from PBS. The association said in a May 16 bulletin that the bill…
DMEPOS Relief Act, H.R. 2005, Introduced in U.S. House
New bill seeks to restore Mediare 75/25 blended reimbursement rate.
A bill to provide Medicare funding relief to many home medical equipment (HME) providers has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa). H.R. 2005, the DMEPOS [durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies] Relief Act of 2025, seeks “a 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for DMEPOs in non-rural/non-competitive bidding…
Ultralightweight Wheelchair Upgrades on the Agenda at AAHomecare’s Expanded Legislative Conference
The conference is scheduled for May 12-13.
Carbon and titanium upgrade legislation will be among the talking points at this May’s legislative conference hosted by the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare). AAHomecare noted in a March 5 announcement that 2025 “has ushered in a new administration and major leadership changes on Congressional committees of jurisdiction for health-care finance issues. Our industry must…
United Spinal Mobilizes Efforts to Preserve Medicaid Benefits
Medicaid funding could be threatened, as the Trump administration seek funds for other priorities.
United Spinal Association is calling on Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) advocates to act immediately to preserve access to Medicaid benefits. “Medicaid is an essential lifeline for people with disabilities,” the organization said in a Feb. 6 bulletin. “It pays for our health care and personal care services. It is what allows millions of people with…
Poll: Medicare, Medicaid Remain Hugely Popular as Trump Administration Takes Over
A large majority of respondents believe health care will become less affordable in the next few years.
Results of a new poll conducted by KFF (formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation) show that a large majority of Americans have favorable views of Medicare and Medicaid, regardless of political party affiliation. While President Donald Trump’s incoming administration and a new Congress have discussed slashing Medicaid funding —reporting this month from Politico mentioned potentially $2.3…
December Spending Bill Extends Medicare Telehealth Coverage Through March
NCART lauds the extension of telehealth for occupational and physical therapists as crucial to timely CRT provision.
The late-December spending bill that funds federal government programs through March 2025 includes an extension of Medicare telehealth funding. President Joe Biden signed H.R. 10545, the American Relief Act 2025, into law on Dec. 21. While critical home medical equipment (HME) legislation, including much-needed funding relief for HME providers, was left out of the bill,…
ITEM Coalition Sends 75/25 Reimbursement Rate Letter to Congressional Leaders
More than 30 advocacy organizations urged Congress to improve funding rates for home medical equipment.
The ITEM Coalition has sent a letter to Congressional leaders to urge their support for the reinstatement of the Medicare 75/25 blended reimbursement rate for home medical equipment. In a Dec. 2 letter, the ITEM Coalition noted that the expiration of the 75/25 reimbursement rate in January has hurt patient access to durable medical equipment…