Archive: October 2004
Legal
October 31, 2004HME News Staff
Determining patient assignment
With Clay Stribling
Q. Recently my explanation of benefits forms (EOBs) from Medicare contained a new statement indicating that, effective Oct. 1, 2004, claims filed for Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries must be filed assigned. What is the effect of this policy change and how will my claims be affected?
A. Earlier this year, CMS modified the process that carriers will use for coordinating benefits for Medicare beneficiaries who have Medicaid as secondary coverage. As...
JCAHO boosts survey fees
October 31, 2004HME News Staff
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. - JCAHO in September approved a survey fee increase for 2005 across all of the organization's accreditation programs.
The fee increases will vary by program and, within programs, will vary by the types and volumes of services provided. The estimated average survey fee increase is $880 for home care, $810 for ambulatory care, $815 for long-term care and $610 for assisted living.
“Certainly we never take any fee increase lightly in terms of what it may possibly do to...
It’s in the bag
October 31, 2004HME News Staff
BUFORD, Ga. - After three years of operating in and around Atlanta, the Neb Doctor exported its bag of pediatric products in September and October to nine new cities: Denver, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City, Kan., St. Louis and Little Rock.
The Neb Doctor (AKA Steven Gavin, president and co-owner) is hardly your typical provider. The Doc built his pediatric business by including in a carry bag a nebulizer, mask and filters. He stocks the equipment with referral...
Distribution
October 31, 2004HME News Staff
ADEL, Iowa - Evo Medical Solutions, a company best known as a nebulizer-based manufacturer-distributor and formerly known as Medical Industries America, plans to sell 2,000 Inogen One. 9.5-lb concentrators into the marketplace by the end of the year.
As the exclusive U.S. distributor of Inogen's cutting-edge concentrator, Evo is barging from the margins of home respiratory care to the red-hot center of a $2 billion-plus home oxygen therapy market.
To lead this new push into oxygen, Evo's founders,...
Briefs
October 31, 2004HME News Staff
Gallahue to lead Resmed globally as president
SAN DIEGO - ResMed has promoted Kieran T. Gallahue from president and COO of the Americas to President of ResMed Global. Gallahue will now assume responsibility for global operations, new business development and product innovation. He reports to ResMed CEO and chairman, Peter Farrell. Gallahue will relocate to Sydney, Australia for 10-12 months as he transitions into his new role.
Cramer-Decker expands on both coasts
IRVINE, Calif. - Cramer- Decker...
Americans discount importance of sleep
October 31, 2004HME News Staff
WALTHAM, Mass. - A new survey has found that 69% of employed Americans fail to count sleep as a more important factor than exercise or diet in the maintenance of a happy and healthy life, according to a poll conducted by Harris Interactive and sponsored by www.Sleep ApneaInfo.com.
The survey also found that 58% of American adults experience daytime sleepiness, and 39% of sexually active adults decline sex due to tiredness.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 18 million...
Briefs
October 31, 2004HME News Staff
RATC debuts new Web site
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - AAHomecare's Rehab and Assistive Technology Council debuted a new “information driven” Web site in September that includes the latest news of interest to rehab providers. The site's address is www.ratc-aahomecare.org. The site allows RATC members and non-members to add their names to a list-serve and receive via email and receive Medicare updates and other information pertinent to their business when it happens, said RATC Chairman Matthew Burke....
New products
October 31, 2004HME News Staff
ELYRIA, Ohio - Invacare has lightened the weight of the Venture Homefill II's portable oxygen tank to 3.6 pounds and come up with a new portable power wheelchair that charts a middle-ground between scooters and power chairs. These two products headline a suite of 40 new products that debuted at this year's Medtrade.
Invacare is billing its At'm (as in “up and at ‘em”) power chair as “the only truly take-along chair.” The chair disassembles into three pieces - a base that...
Tim Hill: A CFO with a mission
October 31, 2004HME News Staff
Some people believe CMS's chief financial officer, Tim Hill, has an ax to grind with the HME industry. If that's the case, watch out.
In the good old days before Wheeler Dealer, Medicare's senior financial management executive kept a low profile, working behind the scenes, coordinating CMS's financial management and overseeing programs that protect Medicare from fraud and abuse. In August 2003, Wheeler Dealer erupted, exposing a crooked clan of DME dealers that drove K0011 utilization in Harris...
Medtrade attendance exceeds projections
October 31, 2004HME News Staff
November 1, 2004
ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando proved to be a drawing card for Medtrade 2004 last week, and show sponsor VNU Expositions reported that attendance appeared to surpass last years' 21,000 total.
"The HME industry (showed) up in full force to attend Medtrade 2004," said Zuzette Estevez, group show director for VNU Expositions. "The attendance at the educational sessions and special events and the activity on the exhibit hall floor (proves) that providers from around the country continue to...