Join the Upcoming Webinar, "Coping with Continued Pandemic/Supply Chain Issues," on Tuesday, November 9!

Published in Government Relations on October 28, 2021

Supply chain issues, vendor surcharges, labor shortages, and product recalls are just a few of the complexities HME suppliers are currently facing during this COVID-19 pandemic. VGM is here to shed some light on these issues and offer some suggestions on how you can endure these issues and still continue to provide quality products and services to your patients.

Please join us for an upcoming webinar with the VGM Government Relations and Regulatory team on Tuesday, November 9 from 12 p.m.– 2 p.m. CT.

Watch the Recording

What will be discussed?

Non-assigned versus assigned claim submission

Ronda Buhrmester, Senior Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement, VGM and Dan Fedor, Director of Reimbursement and Education, U.S. Rehab

Due to surcharges, inflation, and staffing issues along with the declining reimbursement rates, we are hearing from suppliers that they want to learn how to submit a claim non-assigned. While this concept is not new to our industry, suppliers have continued to accept assignment. However, due to the increases in acquisition costs, the financial burden does not and should not fall on the supplier. During this session, Ronda and Dan will review an in depth process for submitting claims non-assigned as a  non-participating supplier. And if you are enrolled as participating, this is good news because open enrollment starts Nov. 15. If you are a supplier that is part of a health system and under the same tax identification number, we will give you options for continuing as a participating supplier. Get your staff together to learn how to understand the process of non-assigned versus assigned claim submission.

In addition, at the end of the presentation, Dan and Ronda will bring in a panel of suppliers, your peers, currently submitting non-assigned claims. They will be able to share their insight of the good, the bad, and what to watch out for with submitting claims non-assigned.

Craig Douglas, VP of Payer Relations will summarize the depth and breadth of the vendor surcharges including which manufacturers, product categories, and dollar amounts. Craig will outline our letter to CMS asking for rate relief and list the things the audience can use in their conversations with customers and other payers.

Mark Higley, VP of Regulatory Affairs

It’s well known that COVID-19 is still disrupting the healthcare industry supply chain, where much of the attention was directed to shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect frontline clinicians. However, as you are most aware, the supply chain challenges also are extending to durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies required by our at-risk patients in their homes to manage chronic conditions and other medical issues. Mark will offer an analysis, update and commentary.

Watch the Recording


TAGS

  1. covid-19
  2. phe
  3. regulatory
  4. reimbursement
  5. vgm government

From Our Experts

CMS Rule Phases Out Fax Machines, Snail Mail to Save Taxpayers $781.98 Million a Year thumbnail CMS Rule Phases Out Fax Machines, Snail Mail to Save Taxpayers $781.98 Million a Year As reported by CMS: “The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is slashing wasteful spending and antiquated paperwork by swapping out faxing and mailing for streamlined electronic transactions. This action lets providers spend less time on administrative hassle and more time caring for patients. PAMES Raises Critical Concerns Over Sole-Source Supply Shift thumbnail PAMES Raises Critical Concerns Over Sole-Source Supply Shift PAMES and DME suppliers across Washington are taking an important stand on behalf of both providers and patients. The Tacoma Daily Index recently reported on the state's plan to move to a sole-source contract for incontinence and urological supplies. Under this decision, the Health Care Authority intends to transition all Medicaid recipients to receiving these products from a single vendor. SBA Advocacy: Your Input Matters thumbnail SBA Advocacy: Your Input Matters Make your voice heard about how the CBP has affected your business. New Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Improve Access to Diabetes Technology & Education for Medicare Beneficiaries thumbnail New Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Improve Access to Diabetes Technology & Education for Medicare Beneficiaries U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), Cochairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, have introduced the Diabetes Interventions Addressing Barriers to Enrollment, Technology, and Education Services (DIABETES) Act, S.4037. VGM Reintroduces the Fraud, Waste & Abuse Reporting Resource Center thumbnail VGM Reintroduces the Fraud, Waste & Abuse Reporting Resource Center VGM Government Relations is proud to announce the reintroduction of its Fraud, Waste & Abuse (FWA) Reporting Resource Center—a newly refreshed online hub designed to protect the integrity of the DMEPOS industry and reinforce our unwavering commitment to ethical, compliant care. Celebrating Another DME Champion of Change: Thom Harvill of Above and Beyond Medical thumbnail Celebrating Another DME Champion of Change: Thom Harvill of Above and Beyond Medical We're proud to once again recognize a true Champion of Change in the DME industry: Thom Harvill of Above and Beyond Medical in Tennessee. Thom has dedicated many years to the DME community—consistently showing up, speaking out, and pushing the industry forward. He's the kind of advocate who never stops asking, “Who else can I reach out to about this?” Federal Actions This Week Signal The Administration Is Doubling Down On Its Goal To Eliminate Fraud Waste And Abuse thumbnail Federal Actions This Week Signal The Administration Is Doubling Down On Its Goal To Eliminate Fraud Waste And Abuse This week, the Trump administration, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced a significant deferral of federal Medicaid matching funds to Minnesota alongside the release of a new Request for Information (RFI) tied to the administration's Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) initiative. These actions along with the changes to DMEPOS accreditation and enrollment signal the administration's aggressive posture on Medicaid and Medicare... VGM Response To CMS Moratorium On New DMEPOS Provider thumbnail VGM Response To CMS Moratorium On New DMEPOS Provider The federal moratorium on new DME suppliers presents a defining moment for us as an industry—an opportunity to demonstrate that the VGM members serving patients are the gold standard. We have long shown that our members operate with integrity, excellence in compliance, and unmatched commitment to service, efficiency, and patient outcomes. Now, we must elevate that message.