New DME Law?

[Mainer]

I heard from PA friend that Obama just signed a new law allowing PA's, NP's to order DME's with face to face encounter, presumably without co-signing by MD.

 

Anybody hear or know anything more about this?

 

 

[Guest Paula]

((B) REQUIREMENT OF PHYSICIAN ORDER.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to require, for specified covered items, that payment may be made under this subsection with respect to the item only if a physician enrolled under section 1866(j) or an eligible professional under section1848(k)(3)(B) that is enrolled under section 1866(j) 
(ii)[90] REQUIREMENTS FOR FACE TO FACE ENCOUNTER.—The Secretary shall require that such an order be written pursuant to a physician, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, or a clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in section 1861(aa)(5)) documenting such physician, physician assistant, practitioner, or specialist has had a face-to-face encounter (including through use of telehealth under subsection (m) and other than with respect to encounters that are incident to services involved) with the individual involved during the 6- month period preceding such written order, or other reasonable timeframe as determined by the Secretary.

[ventana]

Paula posted the updated reg above

 

appears that we now can order DME with out a cosign - about time - great job AAPA!

 

Now about VNA and Hospice

[henryd]

what does this mean and what does this do?

[EMEDPA]

it means a pa can order crutches, bedside commodes,nebulaizer machines,  etc for homebound pts, etc without a physician cosignature or requirement that a doc see the pt before said order is written. .

DME= durable medical equipment.

[KMD16]

it means a pa can order crutches, bedside commodes,nebulaizer machines, etc for homebound pts, etc without a physician cosignature or requirement that a doc see the pt before said order is written. .

DME= durable medical equipment.

True

[henryd]

it means a pa can order crutches, bedside commodes,nebulaizer machines,  etc for homebound pts, etc without a physician cosignature or requirement that a doc see the pt before said order is written. .

DME= durable medical equipment.

Im assuming this is a big deal now that PA are able to write these off on their own?

[EMEDPA]

Im assuming this is a big deal now that PA are able to write these off on their own?

for a certain subset of PAs, yes.

[Guest Paula]

I just wrote an order for compression stockings.  Not sure if they really fit under DME but so far haven't gotten any pushback.  I am waiting for the time I order crutches, etc. and I will not have the physician co-sig on it.  I will be waiting for the phone call from the DME company and having the conversation about they no longer need the co-sig. 

 

I wonder how many people even know about this?  I announced it at my provider meeting last Friday am and no one was aware of the SGR and Obama using his pen. 

 

But the physicians were happy they no longer will be bugged by us PA/NPs for their John Henry's.

[EMEDPA]

in the er it has never been an issue. I write an order for knee immobilizer and crutches or bedside commode or nebulizer and the pt gets one. I can see how this is a big deal for someone like Ventana, who runs an outpt housecall business.