Page 2 – Mercy Supply Collaborative

Recent Changes in Medical Grade Honey Reimbursement – What you as a Consumer Need to Know

There are many changes coming when it comes to the market for medical grade honey for wound care. But there are also many things that are remaining the same. These are the important points you, as a consumer, need to know.

What Hasn’t Changed about Medical Grade Honey for Wound Care

Most importantly, the use of medical grade honey for wound care continues to be an FDA approved practice that is safe and effective for treating wounds and burns.

The reason is that honey has advanced wound healing properties that provides:

Optimal moist environment conducive to wound healing
To help soften and liquefy necrotic (dead) tissue
A low pH level which has been shown to have wound healing benefits – pH is the level of acidity or alkalinity of a solution or substance. If the pH of a product is too different from the pH of the skin it could damage the skin. It is estimated that the ‘natural’ skin surface pH is on average 4.7. High grade medical honey has a pH of at or below 4.7.

It can be used to treat a wide range of wounds, including:

Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Pressure Ulcers
Skin Tears
Superficial Burns
Surgical Wounds
Venous Ulcers

For anyone who needs medical grade honey to deal with wounds on a regular basis, the recently announced changes are both a cause for celebrating and seeking out help for getting medical grade honey wound care products, whether that’s by paying cash or getting help with handling insurance reimbursements.

Recent Changes Related to Medical Grade Honey

Unfortunately in January 2015, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made the decision to discontinue reimbursements under Medicare Part B for honey-based wound dressings containing more than 50 percent medicinal honey.

The exceptions to this rule included:

Acute Care Inpatient
Home Healthcare Agency Use
Long-term Acute Care Hospitals
Outpatient Wound Clinics
Skilled Nursing Facilities (for the first 100 days)

However, those patients affected by the change are those receiving 1) outpatient care locations not found in the above list OR 2) those receiving or administering self-care at home.

CMS Changes its Mind

In June of 2015, CMS reversed the January 2015 decision and allowed honey-based wound dressings containing more than 50 percent medical honey to submit for reimbursement.

Unfortunately, CMS made it more difficult and time consuming for those selling honey products to submit these claims for reimbursement on behalf of patients. Many suppliers found the claims submission and approval format excessively cumbersome and the processing time over long.

Many suppliers ultimately decided that the risk of claim rejection was far too great. So, they quit offering reimbursable medical honey products containing more than 50 percent medical honey and instead offered patients reimbursable non-honey products.

Why is CMS Making these Changes?

No one is really certain why the changes are being made. Some believe it is part of an effort to reduce overall Medicare costs. But, there is widespread concern that while it may only reduce costs marginally it will actually only serve to hurt patient outcomes.

For these reasons, many consumers are now paying cash for honey products because they see and feel the benefits of honey for wound care and don’t want to switch to non-honey products.

Where Can Patients and/or Caregivers Buy Honey Dressings?

While so many suppliers are opting out of supplying medical grade honey products, there are some who will handle insurance billing on behalf of customers — and most will accept cash payments for honey dressings. The online retailer, Medical Monks is one of the few retailer / suppliers that can help consumers with both cash and insurance billing for medical grade honey products.

What Are Some Great Medical Grade Honey Products on the Market?

Here are some top Medical Grade Honey-based wound dressings from Derma Sciences, a leading manufacturer in the industry:

MEDIHONEY® Calcium Alginate

Composed of a Calcium Alginate dressing impregnated with 100% Leptospermum or Manuka Honey. This dressing provides wound fluid absorption capabilities and continuous donation of honey to the wound bed. This dressing is for partial to full thickness wounds and burns that are moderately to heavily draining.

MEDIHONEY® HCS

Composed of a Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP Technology), offering 2.5 times more absorption that leading hydrocolloids, and 100% Leptospermum Honey. This dressing is for superficial to partial thickness wounds and burns that are non-draining to lightly exuding.

MEDIHONEY® Honeycolloid

Composed of hydrocolloids, which are absorptive powders, and 100% Leptospermum Honey. This dressing is for superficial to full partial thickness wounds and burns that are light to moderately draining.

MEDIHONEY® Gel

Composed of 100% Leptospermum Honey and natural gelling agents (vegetable esters). This formulation provides a thick ointment consistency (thicker than the MEDIHONEY® Paste) for added stability when applying to the wound bed. MEDIHONEY® Gel is indicated for superficial to full thickness wounds and burns that are light to moderately draining.

MEDIHONEY® Paste

This dressing comes in a tube just like the MEDIHONEY® Gel. The difference is that the Paste is composed of 100% Leptospermum Honey, with no natural gelling agents and is therefore thinner (more runny) in consistency. MEDIHONEY® Paste is indicated for superficial to full thickness wounds and burns that are light to moderately draining.

To read more about Derma Sciences and their products (to include clinical evidence) go to http://www.dermasciences.com/medihoney

For more information about medical grade honey product coverage and reimbursement or to buy medical grade honey products please visit our website at https://www.medicalmonks.com or call us at please call us here at Medical Monks at 844-859-9400.

About the Author – The Product Specialists at Medical Monks contributed this article. Medical Monks is medical supply retailer serving consumers and businesses across the United States. Reach our Specialists at customercare@medicalmonks.com.

Closed Ostomy Pouches: An Overlooked Alternative

Our product specialists at Medical Monks field hundreds of ostomy-related calls a week from our customers. In fielding these calls, we notice that many ostomates are unaware they have the option to choose closed pouches rather than drainable pouches for a variety of situations. This is because most medical practices automatically instruct ostomy patients to use drainable pouches for two main reasons:

You have more than two or more movements per day and need to have the ability to drain frequently.

Closed pouches are restricted to no more than two per day according to most insurance amount allowed guidelines.

Because of these instructions you’ve likely never heard of closed pouches and how they may be a great alternative for you.

Benefits of Closed Pouches for Ostomates

In many situations, closed pouches provide you with greater flexibility for leisure and living than drainable pouches. Many customers choose to keep a small supply on hand during busy or active times, like during the summer and the holiday season.

These are just a few of the benefits of closed pouches for ostomates.

Closed pouches are offered in wide-variety of lengths and with or without filter.
A closed pouch will provide greater discretion than an often more lengthy drainable pouch.
Closed pouches can be tossed and replaced when you’re busy, out and about, and otherwise unable to drain.
The overall comfort and convenience offered by a closed pouch makes them the perfect choice for social events, long trips, and church functions, etc..
Closed pouches have the added benefit of promoting more intimate moments with your partner, making them a much better choice than drainable pouches for many people in your situation.

Why Are Drainable Pouches So Widely Advised?

To help manage inventory costs and reduce insurance billing complexity, hospitals and home health agencies typically carry and recommend only a select few pouch varieties. In addition, if you have more than two movements a day, drainable pouches are better suited for insurance billing. Insurance allowables typically restrict participants to two closed pouches per day.

Once you leave the care of a hospital or home health care agency you may feel you don’t want to change and try new puching options beyond drainables. This is very common and understandable. We at Medical Monks are here to help you understand your pouching options and cut through the confusion and apprehension typically associated with introducing closed pouches into your life.

Ordering Closed Pouches

Even if you use drainable pouches, you can purchase closed pouches out of pocket as a supplement to drainable pouches. You may choose to have closed pouches billed instead of drainable through your insurance. For example, instead of 20 drainable pouches you can choose 60 closed pouches.

There are times when the convenience of closed pouches and the comfort they provide make them a great add-on to your monthly billing order. Supplementing with various pouch styles allows you greater flexibility with your active schedule.

You might want to begin ordering additional closed pouches in the spring in order to accommodate a busier summer schedule. Sometimes, you simply want the convenience of being able to enjoy the moment without concerns or the aggravation of draining.

Whatever your preference, closed pouches offer alternatives if and when you desire them. They provide a convenient option many ostomates are not aware of. Now that you know, you can enjoy the many benefits closed pouches present for yourself.

What Are Some Great Closed Pouches on the Market?

Medical Monks offers an extensive selection of ostomy supplies for people who have a colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy. We choose our top ostomy supply manufactures for their high quality and diverse types of ostomy products.

Below are two great closed pouch options for you to choose from.

Hollister Premier – One-Piece Pouch – 82xxx
Hollister New Image – Two-Piece Pouch – 183xx
Hollister New Image – Two-Piece Barrier – 1460x

For more information about closed pouches, please call us at 844-859-9400.

About the Author – The Product Specialists of Medical Monks contributed this article. Medical Monks is medical supply retailer serving consumers and businesses across the United States. Reach our Specialists at customercare@medicalmonks.com.