The nation's obesity epidemic is exacting a heavy toll: The rate of new diabetes cases nearly doubled in the United States in the past 10 years, the government said Thursday. The highest rates were in the South, according to the first state-by-state review of new diagnoses. The worst was in West Virginia, where about 13 in 1,000 adults were diagnosed with the disease in 2005-07. The lowest was in Minnesota, where the rate was 5 in 1,000.
Serving patients with diabetes can be rewarding and profitable. Sharpen you skills and provide products and services your customers cannot get in the mailbox.
Bill Popomaronis, R.Ph., NCPA vice president, home health and long term care pharmacy services, provides his thoughts and explanations on the latest DME information from CMS.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
What's a RAC?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced aggressive new steps to find and prevent waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare. CMS is working closer with beneficiaries and providers; consolidating its fraud detection efforts; strengthening its oversight of medical equipment suppliers and home health agencies; and launching the national recovery audit contractor (RAC) program.
The new RAC program contractors will look at billing trends and patterns across Medicare. They will focus on companies and individuals whose billings for Medicare services are higher than the majority of providers and suppliers in the community. CMS is also shifting its traditional approach to fighting fraud by working directly with beneficiaries and ensuring they received the durable medical equipment or home health services for which Medicare was billed and that the items or services were medically necessary.
Big brother is watching!
The new RAC program contractors will look at billing trends and patterns across Medicare. They will focus on companies and individuals whose billings for Medicare services are higher than the majority of providers and suppliers in the community. CMS is also shifting its traditional approach to fighting fraud by working directly with beneficiaries and ensuring they received the durable medical equipment or home health services for which Medicare was billed and that the items or services were medically necessary.
Big brother is watching!
Monday, October 6, 2008
CMS Calls for PAOC Nominees
As a result of MIPPA 2008, CMS has decided to bring “fresh blood” to the PAOC. The current PAOC group is no more. An alternative would have been to extend the term of the original members. I, for one, would have liked to see this through. The committee has invested five years trying to assure beneficiaries have convenient access to DMEPOS through the implementation of competitive bidding.
It makes you wonder why CMS would “retire” the current PAOC group and replace them with those of similar background. Do you think they did not like what they were hearing?
It makes you wonder why CMS would “retire” the current PAOC group and replace them with those of similar background. Do you think they did not like what they were hearing?
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