Latest news with #Criner
Medscape
01-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
CMS Will Cover At-Home Ventilators
More patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who suffer from chronic respiratory failure will have insurance coverage for at-home devices, according to a new coverage decision from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The national coverage decision was published online on the CMS website. CMS will cover respiratory assist devices (RADs) and home mechanical ventilators for patients who meet certain criteria specified in the decision memo. The new decision includes coverage for an initial 6-month period for patients who meet the criteria for chronic respiratory failure (hypercapnia). Patients must be evaluated at least twice within the first year after they initially receive a RAD, and ongoing coverage is contingent on meeting criteria for a consistent level of use associated with improved symptoms such as fatigue, headache, shortness of breath, confusion, and sleep quality. Patients must be evaluated at least twice within the first year after initially receiving an RAD. Evaluations must occur by the end of the 6-month initial coverage period and again during months 7-12. The decision was based in part on the latest version of a document created by the COPD Technical Expert Panel working group. In the report, published online in Chest in 2021, the working group members outlined recommendations for when noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is warranted for patients with COPD and how to improve access to home devices. The working group called for simplified diagnostic requirements, including eliminating overnight oximetry testing, allowing initiation of therapy with bi-level devices with backup rate capability, and extending the length of time for patients to meet adherence criteria. 'Adoption of these proposed recommendations would result in the right device for the right type of patient with COPD at the right time,' the authors wrote. Coverage at Last For members of the COPD Technical Expert Panel working group, the decision was a long time coming. 'We have been going at this for five decades,' said co-author Gerard J. Criner, MD, of Temple University, Philadelphia, in an interview. When experts first created a report advocating for CMS coverage of NIV for COPD, obstacles included a need for patients to undergo sleep studies, Criner noted. Also, some patients had to be discharged home with ventilation devices to use in spontaneous mode and fail with it before a home ventilation device would be covered, he said. The experts issued their most recent report in 2021, and it was published online in Chest . 'To our surprise, the CMS listened,' Criner said. However, the report is more applicable to clinical practice now than in previous years because of advances in technology,' he noted. Patients who need more alarms and support can get more advanced options, and the use of home-based devices can consequently have a greater impact on clinical practice, he said. Persistent barriers to the use and coverage of home-based NIV for COPD include issues of compliance on the part of the patients and physicians, as patients must be compliant with device use, and physicians must document it with periodic assessments, such as every 6 months, Criner noted. However, the bottom line is to not overtreat patients with COPD with these devices, said Criner. 'We don't want patients to get treated with a device that doesn't give them benefits,' he said. The impact of the new coverage has yet to be seen, but for those who can benefit, the effects will likely be significant, he said. Clinical Implications of Clarified Coverage 'Many health systems are not equipped to initiate and follow up patients on RADs,' said Arianne Baldomero, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, in an interview. The coverage decision will require healthcare systems to come up with an implementation plan that will include assessment of patient eligibility, device setup and follow-up, comprehensive clinical documentation, care coordination with durable medical equipment (DME) providers, staff and patient education, and establishment of protocols for ongoing monitoring and compliance with CMS requirements, she said. 'Barriers to expanding home-based ventilation may include, but are not limited to, lack of trained personnel and infrastructure, caregiver burden, and limited patient or family understanding of the therapy,' Baldomero told Medscape Medical News . However, investing in staff training, providing comprehensive patient and caregiver education, improving care coordination, and leveraging telehealth and community resources could help overcome these barriers, she said. 'Clear communication about coverage and streamlined processes will also help patients take advantage of these benefits,' she added. Looking ahead, more research is needed to determine the most effective implementation strategies for this new CMS decision, particularly in underserved rural areas where access to specialized care and DME is limited, said Baldomero. 'Studies should evaluate telehealth models, community-based partnerships, and simplified care pathways to ensure equitable access and adherence,' she noted.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Habitual San Francisco thief arrested again
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A repeat offender who habitually steals from stores in San Francisco is back behind bars and facing new theft charges, police said. Marcel Criner, 57, stole from the same store eight times since November of 2024, the San Francisco Police Department said. He snatched thousands of dollars worth of merchandise while repeatedly shoplifting, according to police, and ignored stay-away orders. The SFPD Defend Against Retail Theft (DART) Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force arrested Criner at San Francisco Hall of Justice, located at 850 Bryant St., last week and booked him into jail. Before Proposition 36 was passed, Criner was routinely cited and released for stealing, police said. 'On December 18, 2024, Proposition 36 came into effect after being passed by voters. Proposition 36 included the creation of CA Penal Code 666.1. This statute enables the charging of petty theft incidents as a felony if the suspect has two or more prior theft convictions. Criner has numerous prior theft convictions,' SFPD wrote. Man on the run from Napa authorities after child sex crime conviction Under Prop 36, Criner is now facing several felony charges, including organized retail theft. 'Our officers will continue to use every tool available to them, including new statutes from Prop36 passed by voters, to hold suspects accountable,' said Police Chief Bill Scott. 'I'd also like to thank our District Attorney who filed charges on this case.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
03-04-2025
- CBS News
San Francisco police arrest suspected serial shoplifter under Prop. 36
Police in San Francisco announced Thursday the arrest of a suspected serial shoplifter, citing a measure recently approved by voters aimed at toughening penalties for retail theft. According to officers, Marcel Criner was initially arrested on Dec. 4, 2024 following a petty theft incident at a store on the 1300 block of Castro Street. Officers booked Criner into jail on suspicion of felony theft after he was suspected in four other thefts at the same location, saying he stole $1,294.73 of items in total. Two days later, a judge issued Criner a stay away order from the store and was released on his own recognizance. Later that month, Prop. 36 went into effect . The measure, which was approved by 68.4% of voters in the November election , enables prosecutors to charge petty theft incidents as either a misdemeanor or felony if a person has two or more prior theft convictions, police said. According to officers, Criner had what was described as "numerous" prior convictions for theft. Last month, investigators with the department's Defend Against Retail Theft (DART) Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force began investigating Criner for five thefts at the same store after being issued a stay-away order. Investigators said they were also able to link Criner to three other thefts at the store in November. Police said the losses from the new incidents totaled nearly $3,000. Criner was arrested and booked into San Francisco County Jail on March 25. He has been charged with five felony counts of petty theft with a prior conviction, five counts of committing a felony while on release, five counts of violating a court order, three counts of petty theft and two counts of organized retail theft. "Our officers will continue to use every tool available to them, including new statutes from Prop 36 passed by voters, to hold suspects accountable. I'd like to thank the investigators who worked tirelessly on these cases and continue to curb organized retail theft in our city," Chief Bill Scott said in a statement . Jail records show Criner remained in custody Thursday on $25,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 10. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact police at 415-575-4444 or to text TIP411, beginning the message with SFPD.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
Mother of five has SNAP benefits stolen for the second time in months
PONCA CITY, Okla. (KFOR) — A mother of five is out more than a $1,000 in SNAP benefits after thieves targeted her account and she said it's not the first time. Tamika Criner said she receives $1,300 to feed her household of six make it through the month. Those funds hit her account at midnight on the 5th of every month, but back in November, she woke up to an empty account. 'I woke up and went to go shopping and nothing was there. They just told me that there weren't any more government funds or federal funds, I guess, to reimburse those,' said Criner. 'This has definitely been a struggle. Very frustrating.' Flash forward to this month, Criner said she was able to use the card one time for only $50 and then the same thing, thieves struck again. 'I'm trying my best. It's definitely an inconvenience. It's just wondering how I'm going to put food on the table, because between the bills, rent and then everything so high, the food too. That's all I have money for,' said Criner. Criner said she's been careful to use the state's recommended app that 'locks' the benefits card. 'I followed all the precautions they had gave,' said Criner. 'No resources. I was not pointed in any good direction at all. Just told the funds are gone and that was it.' PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Propel App says EBT card-locking function works just as well as Oklahoma's app The Department of Human Services sent News 4 the following statement, Oklahoma Human Services works each day to ensure our clients can keep food on the table for their families. Federal laws in the SNAP program require that benefits are able to be used in any state across the nation. While the agency can't block out-of-state transactions, clients can use their ConnectEBT account or app to lock their card everywhere so they have complete control over where and when the card is used. We have seen incredible success in protecting clients' benefits through the ConnectEBT portal and app. Additionally, our agency's Office of Inspector General is always looking to identify fraudulent terminals and card skimmers that are used to steal our clients' benefits. When those are found, we immediately notify our clients, seize skimmers, inspect stores and request the blocking of fraudulent terminals to protect our clients' benefits. Additionally, the agency is working with federal and other partners that would allow our state and other states to block fraudulent terminals ourselves. The best way for customers to protect their benefits is to manage their SNAP card via ConnectEBT in the same way you would your personal checking account. If you have multiple cards tied to your account, be sure that all are being managed using the tips below and ConnectEBT to protect your benefits. Please note that benefits can still be accessed and stolen if any card on your account is not being locked or managed. Oklahoma Department of Human Services DHS also has the following safety tips to prevent your benefits being stolen. Change your PIN monthly Keep your card 'Locked Everywhere' Be careful online. Don't provide your social security number, card number, your card's PIN, or ConnectEBT Login to anyone else or other applications. Watch out for scams Keep your contact information up-to-date with Oklahoma Human Services Oklahoma Department of Human Services Criner has started a GoFundMe to help with expenses. If you would like to donate, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
