Archive: November 2004
Hurricane Medtrade
November 30, 2004HME News Staff
This year's Medtrade show could hardly be more charged. In addition to all the new products and seminars you'll encounter, Election 2004 is just one week away. Will it be Bush or Kerry? And which is best for the HME industry? In this partisan battle for the White House, be careful with whom you express your views. Tempers and emotions run hot on both sides the aisle, Medtrade's included. If that weren't enough, deep reimbursement cuts as mandated by the Medicare Modernization Act are scheduled to...
Briefs
November 30, 2004HME News Staff
Apria continues torrid pace of acquistions
LAKE FOREST, Calif. - During the third quarter of 2004, Apria closed six acquisitions totaling $37 million, resulting in year-to-date purchases of 26 businesses for an approximate value of $147 million, said Lawrence M. Higby, Apria's CEO. During the second and third quarters Apria had an unprecedented 19 acquisitions totaling $104 million and representing 75% more business than was acquired in the comparable period of 2003. Third quarter revenues were...
Three largest exhibitors
November 30, 2004HME News Staff
1: Sunrise
Whenever the term “Olympic-sized” is used to describe a venue, it immediately conjures up the image of something big. As the largest exhibitor at Medtrade, Longmont, Colo.-based Sunrise could modify the phrase to “Paralympic-sized.”
Using the theme “Improving peoples' lives one person at a time,” Sunrise is showcasing new technologies, offering a “sneak peek” into the future of its product lines. The 100' x 80' Sunrise booth will prominently...
Spirit of Excellence: Oncology boutique praised in new book
November 30, 2004HME News Staff
HACKENSACK, N.J. - The Ellen H. Lazar Shoppe on Fifth Oncology Boutique is in the news and on bookshelves this month following the release of a new book highlighting the shoppe's quality and customer service.
The boutique, located in the Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, is featured in the book, “The Spirit of Excellence: How Health Care Organizations Are Achieving Service, Quality and Satisfaction,” which was released in late September. It is a compilation of 150...
Politics
November 30, 2004HME News Staff
Beat the fly-by- nighters
with Asela Cuervo
Q. Will accreditation stop fraud and abuse?
A. Many HME providers support mandatory compliance with quality standards and accreditation, yet there are others for whom these MMA provisions continue to be controversial, largely for reasons having to do with additional costs and administrative burdens. As well, many providers don't believe it will stop all fraud and abuse. While there is a grain of truth to this argument, putting an end to fraud and abuse...
Sean Tunis: A mysterious figure
November 30, 2004HME News Staff
If there's an unknown quantity among the 10 most influential people in the HME industry, it's probably Dr. Sean Tunis, CMS's chief medical officer and its director of the Office of Clinical Standards and Quality.
Tunis joined CMS about 20 years ago, but until he became medical director earlier this year, the industry had little direct interaction with him. What interaction it did have revealed Tunis to take a conservative view of coverage criteria, and a sometimes dim view of the HME industry. At...
VGM spins nationwide O2 network
November 30, 2004HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - Although independent respiratory suppliers fervently believe they can ‘beat the pants off' national suppliers any day of the week, they are as likely to admit that the nationals retain their pants when it comes to marketing. VGM aims to change that.
At Medtrade, the trade group of 2,500 suppliers unveiled plans for a respiratory group of 250 suppliers, similar to its rehab component, U.S. Rehab.
“Respiratory providers have different needs and issues, and we're here to help...
The MED Group hires new CEO
November 30, 2004HME News Staff
LUBBOCK, Texas - Bill Elliott, whose career in healthcare management spans 30 years and includes a stint as president of Bergen Brunswig Medical, took over as the MED Group's CEO in late October.
“I've spent my entire career in healthcare,” Elliott said. “I like to find situations where there are lots of moving parts. My job ... is to be sure our members are among the winners, and disproportionately so.”
At MED's management helm, Elliott joins the group's president, Bill...
Apria’s excellent deal
November 30, 2004HME News Staff
RAYMOND, N.H. - Two former HME Excellence Award winners joined forces Sept. 30 when Apria acquired Lifeplus, arguably New England's premier independent provider.
In 2002, Lifeplus won the HME Excellence Award for “Best Home Medical Equipment Company.” The nine-location company was a second runner-up in 2003 for “Best Home Respiratory Provider.” Apria won the award for “Best Home Respiratory Provider, 2002” and was first runner-up in that category last year.
“Lifeplus...
Dave Hobson: A Capitol friend
November 30, 2004HME News Staff
If the legislative play hatched by Rep. Dave Hobson, R, Ohio, succeeds, every DMEPOS supplier will enjoy a bottom line that's got anywhere from 3% to 23% more cushion in select product categories. That legislation - H.R. 4491 - is now making the rounds on Capitol Hill and would repeal that provision of the MMA which calls for reimbursement reductions of 10-20% for home oxygen, 20% for hospital beds and 23% for nebulizers.
Of course, no one expects this legislation to pass. It's part of a legislative...