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HME NEWS / FEBRUARY 2012 / WWW.HMENEWS.COM Vendors CMS's new MO: Put codes on chopping block? BY LIZ BEAULIEU, Editor BALTIMORE – An alliance of manufacturers and providers of TENS devices met with CMS in December to make its case that Medicare should continue paying for the therapy to treat chronic lower back pain. "We had a good discussion," said Tom Hughes, an attorney and executive director of the Neurostimulation Device Alliance. "We raised important points, and we agreed that we'll be providing them with more informa- tion as a result of the questions they had." CMS is currently reviewing evidence for using TENS devices to treat chronic lower back pain, citing a 2010 American Academy of Neurology study that found the therapy was ineffective for treating the condition. The alliance submitted evidence for CMS's review by its Oct. 13 deadline, but it also requested a meeting with the agency to pro- vide additional evidence. It brought to the meeting, for example, a statistician who has analyzed the effectiveness of TENS devices from both a treatment and cost perspective. The alliance will learn if its efforts have paid ARJO CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE than 100 countries: Healthcare reform efforts here are shifting the emphasis from more expensive institutional care to less expensive home care, Croxford said. "The homecare market will probably be double the acute and long-term care markets combined," he said. "There are people out there who are struggling with just surviving in their environment, so it's a need that still remains untapped." ArjoHuntleigh's products can help patients stay in their homes and out of hospitals, Croxford said. "All of our products prevent an injury, whether it's a patient developing an ulcer or a patient falling out of bed—you name it," he said. ArjoHuntleigh plans to use its connec- tions and clout in the acute care market to propel its homecare division, Croxford said. "Our No. 1 customer is the Department of Veterans Affairs," he said. "So one of our big pushes now is to work with VA facili- ties to help them get veterans discharged so they can live a normal life in their own environment." HME MK BATTERY CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE do with quality than maintenance. "We attribute many problems with how consumers charge their batteries," said Rick Perrotta, president of Network Medical Sup- ply, a wheelchair provider in Charlotte, N.C. "Wheelchair batteries don't have memories like a cell phone battery. To make a wheel- chair battery last, you have to charge it every night, even if it's down only 10%." A few years ago, MK Battery debuted a guide to effective battery care and mainte- nance designed to help providers reduce ser- vice calls. "In general, we believe our providers are better trained in working with batteries," Merdinger said. HME off in March, when CMS plans to publish a proposed decision. CMS expects to have a final decision in June. Adroit Medical Systems, a manufacturer of heat therapy units, knows this routine all too well. In April of 2010, CMS essentially stopped paying for the units to treat chronic pain. Adroit now plans to offer a unit that's appropriate for retail sale. "Even though we're primarily an OEM company and Medicare was a small percent- age of our business, we've had to re-strate- gize," said Scott Gammons, vice president. Adroit Medical blames the demise of heat therapy units on CMS's inability to properly regulate units approved for reimbursement, making it a hotbed for fraud. "Our product is FDA approved and it wasn't available without prescription," he said. "But there were other products that were cheaper and lower quality that were getting the same reimbursement, giving a huge incen- tive for people to put out as many as possible. The only way Medicare can deal with a code that has been abused is to cut it completely." The alliance believes that it has clinical evi- dence and history on its side. "TENS has been the standard of practice for chronic lower back pain for decades," Hughes said. HME 31 The Flex-A-Bed Hi-Low Model Ideal for those in home health care or assisted living environments. The Hi-Low model can be raised and lowered vertically with a touch of a button using whisper-quiet lift and massage technology by Linak® makes the minimum bed height as low as 19 inches. . Our optional low profile mattress Now more than ever, Flex-A-Bed is your customers' answer to the perfect night's sleep. We continue to build every bed — including the mattress — in the USA, using the same principles we've built our reputation on since 1969. And with profit margins of up to 120 percent, we think Flex-A-Bed will not only be your most profitable, but also your favorite, sale. Call or visit our website to learn more about our full line of products today. We offer a full line of beds designed to suit every customer's needs. Premier Value-Flex Hi-Low 800-648-1256 | www.flexabed.com Made in the USA