Archive: November 2002
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...
Briefs
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
Financials
Chad Therapeutics' domestic conserver sales are up 25% over the same corresponding quarter last year, although the company is reporting an overall revenue decline of 7% in the 2nd qtr. of fiscal 2003. Sales of the Total O2 transfilling concentrator were down, partly due to an acquisition of a big customer last year by a national player that doesn't use Total O2. Chad expects a resumption of positive overall revenue comparisons next month…. CareCentrics revenues for the 3rd qtr. of 2002...
Permobil drafts consumer protection bill
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Permobil is drafting a bill that would require that rehab providers in Tennessee become members of the National Registry of Rehab Technology Suppliers (NRRTS) or the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), beginning Jan. 1, 2004.
"Rehab is the only profession where someone has their hands all over you, but they don't have to have a license or certification," said Darren Jernigan, director of government affairs for Permobil. "There...
Finance
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
Troubled funding firm could pinch access to capital
ANDOVER, Mass. - National Century Financing Enterprise, which contracts to buy accounts receivables from healthcare companies, filed for bankruptcy last month after missing $30 million in payments to roughly 60 providers. The missed payments reportedly spawned serious cash crunches for providers.
In general, factoring companies like NCFE work more closely with home healthcare agencies than with HMEs. That's because HHAs have more staff and can't...
Politics
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
Looking beyond CB
WITH MARTIN SZMAL
Q: All the talk's about nationwide competitive bidding (NCB). What else is going on in Washington?
A: The attention garnered by NCB proposal has drawn focus to the importance of the industry's involvement in the legislative process. Provisions introduced and addressed in both House and Senate Medicare reform bill language this year need the attention of our industry to ensure they come to fruition in the 108th Congress. Some more important issues include the...
AHP, creditors table exec compensation
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - American HomePatient won't ask a judge to approve controversial compensation and severance packages for top executives until the home health company's bankruptcy reorganization plan is finalized.
The packages called for about a dozen top executives to be paid anywhere from six months to three years' salary should the company be sold or experience a change of control. Nashville-based American HomePatient filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 31 in an effort to restructure...
Shoprider builds sales force in-house
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
CARSON, Calif. - A year after by Taiwan-based Pihsiang Machinery Manufacturing parted ways with its U.S. distributor and launched its own direct-to-dealer sales efforts as Shoprider, the company is dramatically downsizing its reliance on independent rep sales and building an in-house sales force.
"We've been trying to improve a lot of things," since the break with DCD, said Shoprider spokesperson. "By having our own sales force, our price can be more competitive."
Eventually, 70% of the Shoprider...
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...
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...
Finance
November 30, 2002HME News Staff
Profitability: Know thy costs
WITH DON CLAYBACK
Q: With reimbursement pressures, I know I need to have a good handle on the profitability of my various product lines. Any suggestions?
A: It's now more important than ever to have accurate information on the financial performance of the segments of your business. To do this analysis, you need to be able to accurately segregate two items by product line: "real" revenue and "real" costs.
Revenue. This is the net amount generated from each segment....