Briefs: Hasco Medical acquires Ride-Away for $6 million

MOBILE, Ala. - Hasco Medical acquired New Hampshire-based Ride-Away for $6 million, it announced March 5. It's the fourth acquisition in nine months for Hasco. With this latest deal, Hasco acquires Ride-Away's 11 East Coast locations which generate more than $70 million annually in wheelchair van modifications. Mark Lore, Ride-Away founder and president, will stay onboard to run the company.

Stakeholders make progress on complex rehab documents

BETHESDA, Md. - The first draft of a specialized knowledge and skills paper for complex seating and wheeled mobility for the AOTA is complete, said Cindi Petito, one of the lead authors. The final document, which should be completed this fall, will outline the skills and knowledge needed to provide both non-complex and complex seating and mobility. A second AOTA document, the Policy Fact Sheet on Complex Rehab Technology, is complete and awaiting AOTA approval, Petito said. The fact sheet is intended to educate the public, policymakers and stakeholders about complex rehab. Both documents are part of an effort to garner AOTA support for complex rehab as a specialty, which could lend weight to the complex rehab separate benefit initiative.

Providers want patients to reach out to Congress

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. - MAMES providers are circulating a letter to Rep. Erik Paulsen, R.-Minn., asking the lawmaker to take the lead on a bill to establish a separate benefit for complex rehab. Patients can sign and send the letter to Paulsen. The letter, drafted by Jackie Semrad, the compliance officer for Reliable Medical Supply in Brooklyn Park, Minn., states, "The current benefit structure presents serious and often insurmountable obstacles for individuals who need CRT." The letter informs Paulsen that a separate benefit will ensure beneficiaries have access to critical assistive devices.

USM donates wheelchair to young vandalism victim

SCOTTDALE, Pa. - United Seating and Mobility in February donated a wheelchair to a 6-year-old boy with cerebral palsy whose wheelchair was vandalized. The boy, who was recently diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, had his motorized wheelchair destroyed as part of a crime spree that has been attributed to a pair of brothers who are also alleged to have burglarized 32 cars.

Short Take

Rehabmart.com will now offer pressure reducing support mattresses and related healthcare products through a collaboration with New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Mason Medical Products.