Archive - July 2020

August 1-7 each year is World Breastfeeding Week. Additionally, August is celebrated as National Breastfeeding Month all month long. This year’s World Breastfeeding Week focuses on how breastfeeding can improve the environment and climate change. According to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), 720,450 metric tonnes of milk formula sold annually in 6 Asian countries generated almost 2.9 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gases. This is equivalent to nearly 7,000 million

Last March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we thought it could last a long time, but we all hoped it would be over by October. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. We are still in the midst of a public health emergency (PHE) and we are coming up on what is typically our busiest season, Breast Cancer Awareness month and the fourth quarter. Many of your typical charity events, awareness walks/runs, and in-store events will either look different or be canceled altogether. However, many

As businesses reopen, you may be calling back employees who were placed on a temporary layoff or furlough due to COVID-19. What do you do if you have employees who refuse to come to work? They may have concerns about getting COVID-19, have issues with childcare, or they may be making more money on unemployment. Each state may differ in their policies on Unemployment Insurance. Check with your state department of labor to see if they have a policy on an employee’s refusal to return to work

August 3rd seems to be an important date for CMS. On August 3rd, the DME MACs, SMRC, and RAC will be able to resume audit activity.  Here is a recent update from the “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Provider Burden Relief Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)” that are attached as well.  Prior Authorizations will resume as business as usual for PMDs and Group 2 Support Surfaces.  Also, the lower limb prosthetics (6 codes) will begin prior authorization activity