Archive: November 2002
Rehab
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - AAHomecare's rehab council has selected the Rehabilitation, Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of America (RESNA) to develop standards for its rehab accreditation program.
The Re/habilitation and Assistive Technology Council (RATC) will pay RESNA $200,000 to develop the standards over the upcoming year. RESNA was one of three finalists vying for the contract, and RATC announced at Medtrade in Atlanta that RESNA had won. RATC believes a rehab accreditation program is needed...
Bid debate gets competitive
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Call it Battle of the Rebuttals.
In what has turned into a spirited exchange of methodology arguments regarding the projected savings of competitive bidding, the Congressional Budget Office and the Pricewater-houseCoopers accounting firm both recently issued statements refuting the other's findings.
The fiscal entities are at loggerheads over the Medicare savings potential from a national DME competitive bidding program proposed in House Resolution 4954, the Medicare Modernization...
Providers mull over Permobil's efforts
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - High-end rehab providers are applauding Permobil's plan to raise the bar for the rehab industry, but they're not sure how much of an impact the wheelchair manufacturer's plan - if realized - would have.
In October, Permobil announced it was working on a set of standards that would restrict sales of the company's power products to dealers who employ certified rehab technology suppliers (CRTSs), which are issued by the National Registry of Rehab Technology Suppliers (NRRTS).
Doug...
Wound Care
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
Biomedical Systems
The Heeler
- Effectively and inexpensively eliminates 100% of pressure on heel and foot ulcers but allows optimum air circulation.
- New Slip-Guard strap keeps foot in proper position.
- Includes comfortable shearing cover and inflatable cushion.
Carrington Labs Ultrex Preservative Free Gel
- Use with painful wounds, sensitive skin, low-pain thresholds or preservative reactions.
- True, unit-dose packaging that's ideal for secondary and tertiary care settings.
- Contains...
Briefs
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
ProMed launches co-op advertising program
ATLANTA - After failing to get a favorable (or negative) advisory opinion from the OIG, ProMed Pharmacies has abandoned plans to offer a pharmacy management agreement product to HME providers. Instead, ProMed is launching a co-op advertising program for HME providers who lack the 50 to100-patient critical mass that makes hiring one's own pharmacist feasible. "We've been looking for ways we can work closer with HME dealers and still stay within the law,"...
Selinger arrested, charged with fraud
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
OYSTER BAY, N.Y. - Graham-Field's former CEO Irwin Selinger was charged last month with securities fraud for allegedly inflating the value of the company's stock in 1997. The allegations came just a week after Graham-Field asked Selinger to return as an adviser to help guide the company out of bankruptcy.
Graham-Field declined to respond to questions about Selinger's role at the company in the wake of the federal charges.
Selinger, 62, and Marc Chapman, 44, were arrested last week by FBI agents...
NewsPoll
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
Should Medicare restrict sales of K0011 power wheelchairs to only those companies that maintain their own physical service locations in the markets they serve?
Strongly agree - 84%
Agree - 11%
Disagree - 1%
Strongly Disagree - 4%
"This should not be a question just about K11's. We believe that Medicare should start by requiring suppliers to service ALL items that they sell (vs. rent). There is already a requirement for suppliers to service rented items. We believe it is wrong not to require the...
Briefs
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
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...
CMS calls for additional documentation
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - CMS is proposing modifications to the CMN process that would formalize the DMERC's license to require "supporting documentation necessary to make appropriate claims determinations."
Published Nov. 18 in the Federal Register, the proposed revision to the CMN would require HME providers and physicians to "supply additional routine supporting documentation" on an as needed basis. CMS characterizes the likely frequency of the requests for more documentation as occasional.
The proposed...
Briefs
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
RATC requests meeting with CMS
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare's Re/hab and Assistive Technology Council has requested a meeting with CMS to discuss the new codes for pediatric mobility equipment and accessories. RATC hasn't received official letters of determination from CMS yet, but information it has received from other payer sources is cause for concern, said Rita Hostak, chairman of RATC. First, RATC fears CMS has grouped the codes into categories that are too broad. Second, it fears the new codes...