Legend loses arbitration to United, sources say

SHARON HILL, Pa. - Managed care network Legend Healthcare has apparently lost a bid to recover $11 million it claims United Healthcare owed it. The two companies were scheduled to present their cases to an arbiter last November. A United spokesman told HME News last month that the dispute was resolved in United's favor. Legend Executive V. P. Phil Leone did not return two phone calls. Legend relied on United for about 50% of its business but severed the relationship a little over a year ago, after charging that United was doing business with Legend members on the side and thus depriving Legend of revenue. E-MedSoft.com changes name KSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. - E-MedSoft.com stockholders approved a name change last month that will let the company do business as Med Diversified Inc. E-MedSoft operates companies in various segments within the healthcare industry, including pharmacy, home infusion, multimedia, management, clinical respiratory services, home medical equipment, home health services and other functions. Goldsmith's embraces retail ST. LOUIS - After 19 years of focusing exclusively on referral business, Steve Goldsmith's going into retail, catering to the needs of a group of orthopedic surgeons who've opened a 56,000-square-foot one-stop-shop for their patients."I think it's a good opportunity for us," said the owner of Goldsmith Medical. "We'll gear it to sports medicine and workers comp patients coming through their offices and surgery centers. Once we get anchored, we'll market to doctors and therapists in the community for things patients need but hospitals no longer dispense." Those products include CMP machines, walkers, commodes, hip kits and exercise products, Goldsmith said. Goldsmith plans to open the new 1,300-square-foot location this spring or summer. Until now, he hasn't noticed a demand in the community for a retail DME location. But Orthopedic Associates new $2.3 million one-stop-shop has created that demand. The nine doctor practice and its landlord have begun turning a Des Peres shopping center into a medical and fitness campus that eventually will include a physical therapy and wellness area, outpatient surgery, doctors offices, DME and back office operations. In creating the center, the doctors wanted a single office they could operate efficiently, that had adequate parking and that would allow them to control the quality of care.