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December 2025

⚠️ Action Required: Holiday Payroll Deadlines – Must Submit on Time!

NSM will be celebrating Christmas on Thursday, December 25th! To ensure everyone is paid on time, please follow the schedule below. Timely submission of payroll data is essential for our December 26th pay date.

Missed Punches & Pending Changes

Managers: Approve pending change requests throughout the pay period so employees can submit their timesheets on the last day.
Managers: Update missing punches and all timecard corrections by the end of the day Friday, December 19th.

Timesheets

Employees: Submit your timesheets by the end of the day on Friday, December 19th. (If you work on Saturday, December 20th, you may submit your time after your shift.)
Managers: Approve all timesheets before 12:00 PM ET on Monday, December 22nd.

Questions? Reach out to payroll@nsm-seating.com.

Company

CMS Releases 2026 Final Rule: Here's What You Need to Know

CMS has released the 2026 DMEPOS/Home Health Final Rule, which includes updates to competitive product bidding (CBP) and supplier accreditation. Here’s what you need to know:

More Frequent Accreditation Reviews
CMS will now require all DMEPOS suppliers to undergo annual surveys and reaccreditation—every 12 months instead of the previous multi-year cycle.

Expansion of Competitive Bidding
CMS is adding new product categories—such as CGMs, insulin pumps, and certain disposable supplies—to competitive bidding.

For NSM, the impact is limited to supplies products. The only NSM products included are urological and ostomy supplies.

NSM’s Payer Relations team is currently reviewing the full CBP requirements. All NSM supply categories will be included in this upcoming round of CBP. The team will continue evaluating reimbursement implications and share updates as they become available.

Thank you for your continued dedication and focus as NSM navigates these industry changes. We will keep you informed and engaged every step of the way as we prepare for the upcoming CMS requirements. If you have any questions, please reach out to your NSM Payer Relations Vice President.

December Weather Plan: Adjusted Hours to Keep Deliveries on Track

As we move into December, we are already experiencing branch closures or abbreviated workdays due to snowfall and icy road conditions in some markets. The National Weather Service is expecting higher-than-normal December snowfalls for parts of the US to include the mid-Atlantic (New York down through North Carolina), the Ohio valley (includes six states), and the Pacific Northwest. We may see higher than normal needs to alter our business hours during our busiest month of the year. While we can’t control the weather, we can plan ahead to ensure our clients get their deliveries before year's end, despite weather conditions.

As always, employee safety is our highest priority when roads are unsafe for travel. For the month of December, when a branch is required to close for extended hours or full days, we will alter our work hours to include Saturdays or Sundays to “make-up” missed work hours and complete important client deliveries. We appreciate everyone’s flexibility to work some weekend days when branches are required to close during weekdays.

While we hope that the weather cooperates during this month, we feel that this is a good short-term plan to accommodate client deliveries before year-end. We appreciate your understanding and support.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your Division Vice President or Human Resources.

Almost There: NSM’s Move to RingCentral is Nearly Complete!

The transition from Fuze to RingCentral is nearly complete across the U.S., delivering enhanced features and a smoother service experience for both calls and messaging. Here’s the latest progress:

Phone numbers: 1,648 of 1,661 have successfully ported—99.2% complete.
Text messaging: 1,651 of 1,663 accounts are active and working as expected—99.2% complete.

We appreciate everyone’s patience during this transition. By the end of December, all U.S. branches will be fully operating on RingCentral, with all known issues resolved, ensuring better communication across NSM.

Manufacturer Backorder Updates to Support Year-End Client Experience

NSM’s Supply Chain Team is working diligently to mitigate manufacturer backorders and ensure that NSM orders are prioritized for fulfillment. Here is the current status by manufacturer:

Freedom Designs

Freedom has moved its soft goods and custom seating manufacturing to Mexico, which has created significant delays for POS processed in November, now impacting $3.3M in wheelchair deliveries.
This week, Freedom took corrective action and sent 8 people to Mexico to support production levels and to move systems on order. They have also brought in additional industrial sewing machines and materials into Simi Valley to support parallel manufacturing of select soft goods while Mexico works to get caught up.
NSM orders are being prioritized, and we will see significant movement over the next two weeks.

Roho

Backlog is improving; inventory levels support future timeliness.
A few items remain delayed, but operations are working to get ahead of schedule.

Products beyond acceptable service levels continue to be: 1R1012C, 1R1012H-CA-SR, 1R109LPC, 1R1110MPC, 1R1112C, 1R119LPC, 1R1211C, 1R1310LPC, ADAPTOR, HS1818C, HS1820C, QS1010C, QS1112C, QS910C, QS911C, QS1011MPC, QS1212C, QS1011MPC.

LUCI

$465K of $564K in open orders will arrive at branches before year-end; orders prioritized by authorization expiration and revenue impact.
Units ship overnight on Fridays with Monday branch deliveries in batches of six.
The individual work orders have been updated with ESD and Expected Receipt dates to support branch delivery planning.
For the remaining $100K in power chair orders, assess if clients can safely use their chair without LUCI to allow early delivery.

Partners In Medicine

$511K in revenue delayed due to Canada-US customs challenges.
Clinical Specialists delivering all available units through 12/31/25; PO 245-6873535 is a priority.

NSM continues close collaboration with manufacturers to minimize delays and provide up-to-date ESDs to support branch planning.

Spark Tank Innovation Challenge: Submission Period Now Closed!

We’re blown away by the amazing response to Spark Tank, NSM’s company-wide innovation challenge! The submission period closed on November 25, with over 250 ideas submitted—many focused on improving our business, streamlining processes, and enhancing the client experience.

Operational Excellence (OpEx) has formed a Spark Tank Review Committee to evaluate all entries. Each idea will be assessed based on:

Impact on the business or clients (financial or customer experience)
Ease and feasibility of implementation
Potential savings, cost improvements, or cost avoidance

The committee will review all submissions, narrow down the list, and present finalists to the senior leadership team. Reviews are expected to be completed by year-end, with winners announced in January.

We’re excited to see how these innovative ideas will shape the future of NSM!

Let's End 2025 on a High Note: Just Ask Drives NSM’s Google Reviews!

We saw a slight decline in our Google Review performance this month, landing at a 4.2 rating with 186 total reviews. This compares to October, when we closed with a 4.4 rating and 206 reviews, and September, when we also held a 4.4 rating with 216 reviews.

Leaders, your role is critical to help close out 2025 strong. Encouraging your teams to ask happy clients for reviews isn’t just a nice-to-do — it directly impacts our reputation and helps us hit our goals. Every review counts, and your guidance sets the tone.

November Google Review Rating Update by Division

Access Standalone: 5.0 (3 total reviews)
Canada: 4.5 (32 total reviews)
North Division: 4.4 (64 total reviews)
South Division: 4.3 (53 reviews)
West Division: 3.6 (34 reviews)

2025 Year-to-Date Google Review Rating Update by Division

Access Standalone: 4.7 (79 reviews YTD)
Canada: 4.7 (327 reviews YTD)
North Division: 4.4 (594 reviews YTD)
South Division: 4.5 (850 reviews YTD)
West Division: 4.0 (367 reviews YTD)

Branch Performance Snapshot

57% of NSM branches are hitting 4.0–5.0 — fantastic!
16% of NSM branches are on the cusp of our 4.0 average goal at 3.5–3.9 — let’s push them over the goal line!
27% of NSM branches are below 3.4 — an opportunity to rally your teams and make a real impact.

💡 Leader Tip: A quick, friendly ask — “Would you mind leaving us a review?” — works every time. Celebrate the wins, coach where needed, and keep asking happy clients. Your leadership drives results!

Helpful Links

Click here to download and view the current leaderboard.
Click here for helpful Google Review Resources.

Rate Update Alert: Centene/Wellcare National Fee Schedule Just Got a Boost!

Effective December 1, 2025, NSM has successfully secured a rate increase for our Centene/Wellcare National fee schedule. Key highlights include:

Core CRT HCPCs: Most codes, including ADLs, are seeing increases—except E0240 (bath chairs), which defaults to 100% of state Medicaid fees (or 45% of billed if no fixed Medicaid rate).
Medicare-based codes: Moving from fixed allowables to 90% of CY Medicare, including KU modifier reimbursements, with annual Medicare CPI-U adjustments applied.
Manually priced CRT carveout codes: Codes like E1399, K0108, E2609, E2617, etc., will see a 2% increase based on MSRP -23%.
Select HCPC increases:

HCPC	Old Allow	New Allow	Increase %
E0637	$2,781.06	$2,983.17	7%
E0638	$2,579.78	$2,737.23	6%
E0641	$1,500.28	MSRP -23%	—
E8000	$1,181.05	$2,248.25	90%
E8001	$2,264.18	MSRP -23%	—
E2331	$3,380.96	$3,582.10	6%
K0884	$9,752.66	$11,168.56	15%

Exclusions: Centene/Wellcare Medicaid plans in IN, KY, MS, NC, HI, and Superior Health Plan in TX are not included in this national agreement.
For HCPCs not in the CRT carveout, refer to the UPD for default reimbursement language.
See the attached list for impacted plans by state.

This update ensures fairer reimbursements and strengthens our partnership with Centene/Wellcare across most U.S. markets.

Big News: Missouri Medicaid Now Covers Power Seat Elevation – Effective November 1, 2025!

Missouri Medicaid just made a game-changing update for power wheelchair users. In a provider bulletin released on November 14, 2025, they announced coverage and reimbursement for power wheelchair seat elevation systems (E2298), as well as Group 2 power wheelchairs with seat elevation (K0830/K0831) for services starting November 1, 2025. Full details are available here:

Power Wheelchair Seat Elevation System Coverage in DME Program | mydss.mo.gov.

With this new coverage, seat elevation should now be evaluated for every Medicaid beneficiary. Some key points to maximize both patient benefit and reimbursement:

K0830/K0831 (Seat Elevation without Power Functions):
- Best margin options: Jazzy Air Med or Vision Sport.
- Avoid: J4E with static seat and seat elevation.
K0835 (Seat Elevation with Power Tilt):
- Preferred option: J4E with power tilt and seat elevation.

Click here to view a helpful graph.

Need demos or more guidance? Reach out to Stacy Clouse for assistance.

This is a huge win for mobility, independence, and patient outcomes—make sure every Medicaid case gets the evaluation it deserves!

PEOPLE

Flu Season Reminder: Submit Your Vaccine/Waiver?

Flu season is here—let’s stay healthy!

Get Vaccinated:

Strongly encouraged, not required
Likely covered by benefits
Available at pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and during work hours

Avoid the Flu Shot If:

Under 6 months old
Life-threatening allergy to the vaccine
History of Guillain-Barré syndrome (consult your doctor)

Mandatory:

Submit your Influenza Vaccine Acceptance/Waiver form annually. It’s fully electronic— click here to submit your response.

Winter Weather Safety: Quick Leader Guide

Heads Up: Winter is here — icy roads, sidewalks, and parking lots increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Keep yourself and your team safe with these quick tips.

On the Road

Slow down and leave extra travel time.
Stay alert — conditions can change quickly.
Remind teammates: snow, ice, and slush increase crash risk.

Around the Workplace

Watch for icy entrances, steps, and parking lots. Move deliberately and use handrails.
Speak up if hazards are spotted.

Quick Winter Facts

24% of weather-related crashes happen on snow/ice/slush.
1,300+ people die on winter roads annually; 116,000+ are injured.
20,000+ workplace injuries yearly involve ice, snow, or sleet.

Simple Safety Actions

Clear and salt entrances/exits.
Wear warm, slip-resistant footwear.
Move slowly when entering/exiting vehicles.
Look out for your teammates — help each other stay safe.

Be Vigilant. Be Safe.
We want every member of our NSM team to stay safe this winter season — at work, on the road, and at home.

FYI: New Client Newsletter — Moving Forward — Launched Thursday, November 20

We’re excited to share that NSM's new monthly client newsletter, Moving Forward, has officially launched! This newsletter is sent to clients who have opted in to receive emails from NSM.

Designed to inspire and inform, Moving Forward features helpful tips, product highlights, company news, and uplifting stories from across our community. The first issue hit inboxes on November 20 and already achieved an impressive 73% open rate—a strong start for this new connection with our clients.

We’re thrilled to see such strong client engagement and look forward to keeping the momentum going!