Archive: June 2002
Vendors tout Web-based systems
June 30, 2002HME News Staff
DULUTH, Georgia - Although HME providers typically work their software systems until the code falls apart at the seams, a new breed of software system vendor is trying to convince the industry that a Web-based system is worth the price of conversion.
Bright Tree, a new Web-based HME operations and billing program developed by Fidelis Software, is one of the first applications in the industry to use browser-based language instead of the longstanding DOS and Unix codes. Another vendor, Altamonte Springs,...
Sunrise Medical relocates distribution center, Jay
June 30, 2002HME News Staff
LONGMONT, Colo. - Sunrise Medical is moving one of its three distribution centers from Atlanta to Memphis, effective July 22 and relocating its seating and positioning products manufacturing from here to facilities in Fresno, Calif. and Tijuana. The Jay relocation will take place over the next several months.
The Memphis facility will serve as the south-central hub for all Sunrise Medical products and as complement to the company's other distribution facilities in Harrisburg, Penn., and Fresno,...
Contemplating Medicare's 'dark path'
June 30, 2002HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Like teenagers and beer, Medicare's going to try competitive bidding - that's all there is to it, says one HME provider, who has resigned himself to the inevitability of the dreaded reimbursement methodology.
"You can try to talk them out of it," the provider said. "You can stall 'em for a while, but eventually they're gonna try it - if they hurt themselves that's OK, but I'm afraid I'll be the hit 'n'run victim."
Fear, outrage, defiance, resignation, incredulity, diplomacy, even complacency:...
Study: Demand for dressings to grow
June 30, 2002HME News Staff
SAN JOSE, Calif. - As the U.S. population ages, demand will continue to rise for advanced dressings used to treat chronic wounds, such as pressure ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, and diabetic ulcers, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan.
Moist wound dressings, which facilitate natural healing in a cost- effective manner, will increasingly be the choice of doctors for many of their elderly patients.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.healthcare.frost.com/ ), U.S. Advanced Moist...
Compliance
June 30, 2002HME News Staff
Med Diversified runs afoul of stock exchange
ANDOVER, Mass. - Med Diversified, the high-flying Internet company that's trying to remake itself as a one-stop shop homecare provider, is in hot water with the American Stock Exchange (AMEX).
AMEX claims that during 2001 Med Diversified did not comply with a number of stock exchange standards. Among the charges: Med Diversified issued additional stock without AMEX approval; made misstatement in public filings; and its financial condition is impaired...
Reviewing HIPAA's trail markers
June 30, 2002HME News Staff
The past couple of months I have been rambling along about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) trail.
So far we have crossed two trail markers on the HIPAA trail and have now reached a checkpoint. Trail checkpoints give us a chance to see how far along the trail we have progressed and what steps, we need to take to continue our forced stroll through the land of bureaucracy. This first checkpoint indicates that in order to continue on to the destination of becoming HIPAA...
FAMES awaits judge's decision on comp. bidding
June 30, 2002HME News Staff
TALAHASSEE, Fla. - An administrative law judge here has until early August to determine the fate of a lawsuit filed by the Florida Association of Medical Equipment Services (FAMES) that seeks to put the brakes on a competitive bidding project for Medicaid.
FAMES and officials from the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), which administers the Medicaid program, met in court June 3 and 5 to haggle over whether the state should competitively bid for oxygen equipment and supplies and hospital...
Legislative
June 30, 2002HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The OIG is recommending that CMS drop its semi-annual maintenance payment for capped rental equipment and pay only for repairs when needed, according to a June report.
Or, the OIG says CMS could drop its 15-month rental option altogether, which would effectively drop the payment.
After tracking more than 3,500 pieces of capped rental equipment for five years, the OIG concluded that Medicare pays "substantially" more for maintenance on rented equipment than for repairs on purchased...
CBO estimates comp. bidding would save $7.7B
June 30, 2002HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - A provision for a national competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment contained in a bill by the House Ways and Means Committee would save Medicare $7.7 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
AAHomecare called the estimate "completely incredulous," arguing that the number is sheer speculation because the bill contains no clear definition of what items would be covered, nor what areas of the country would be included.
The bill would authorize...
Politics
June 30, 2002HME News Staff
Competitive bidding: All's not lost
WITH TOM CONNAUGHTON
Q. What will be the impact of the House passing a Medicare prescription drug bill that requires a national competitive bidding program?
A. Unfortunately, it is a virtual certainty that the House of Representatives will pass a bill with a national competitive bidding program in July. This is most unfortunate, but it is not the final word on this issue. The Senate has yet to consider Medicare legislation, and though there are some strong proponents...