Briefs

AHP implements e-CMN process in 280+ branches NASHVILLE, Tenn. - American HomePatient implemented last month e-CMNs for its entire network of 280+ branches. American HomePatient hopes to achieve significant physician participation in the first two years of deployment. AHP logs approximately 30,000 Medicare CMNs and Physician's Orders per month. E-CMNS are intended to help physicians by reducing paperwork and improving productivity. The improved accuracy also helps HMEs: More than one-half of paper CMNs include some completion error and must be sent back by the supplier for correction. DMEs get $5M fine TAMPA, Fla. - Seven companies that make durable medical equipment have been ordered to pay $5.4 million in restitution to the U.S. government for a billing scam that defrauded Medicare and Medicaid, federal prosecutors in Florida said. Prosecutors identified the companies and the amounts of restitution as: DBB Inc., $1.2 million; G.S. Care Corp., $575,067; Gold Star Healthcare Inc., $947,283; Med-Care Distributors Inc., $740,407;T-Tech Medical Services Inc., $380,000; and Trans-Capital Investment Group Inc., $1.4 million. Short takes from here and there ... A.D. Inc., doing business as Electric Scooter Store in Winter Park, Fla., filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy recently. The company listed assets of $8,400 and debts of $46,145. …Canada's MediChair home medical equipment franchise opened its 55th location in mid October in Camrose, Alberta. MediChair, which began operations in 1985, has opened 10 new locations this year…Merriam Graves, a Charlestown, N.H.-based HME provider, opened two new full service locations last month in Pittsfield, Mass. and Northampton, Mass., its 15th and 16th location.