Archive: March 2004
Briefs
March 31, 2004HME News Staff
Big Medicaid cut would ‘devastate' rehab
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate is considering Medicaid cuts lawmakers say would save $10 billion over five years, according to Reuters. The savings would result from a crack down on a Medicaid funding mechanism that allows states to claim a greater federal reimbursement than was actually spent for services. The cuts, which are included in the Senate's 2005 budget resolution, were quickly condemned by the rehab community, saying they would have a “devastating”...
Specialty Rx: Bandage for MMA cuts?
March 31, 2004HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine - With Medicare scheduled to implement a big reimbursement cut for respiratory drugs in 2005, the specialty pharmaceutical market may offer hope for those Rx/HMEs looking to generate additional revenue, say industry watchers.
“The folks in the HME business, if they are doing respiratory medications, then they can pretty easily get into specialty pharmacy, but often I don't think they realize that opportunity,” said Bob Ciardi, a managing partner at Provident Healthcare...
ACHC accredits Scooter Store
March 31, 2004HME News Staff
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - The Scooter Store, the nation's largest provider of power mobility products, recently announced that it had earned accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).
The Scooter Store earned the distinction following a seven-month process that required compliance with 58 standards covering eight areas of business operation. ACHC also conducted several unannounced visits of Scooter Store locations.
“Particularly because of the situation that emerged...
Medicare crackdown rattles staff
March 31, 2004HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine - When Steve Awtry learned in October that CMS had asked his employer, Home Health Options, to repay $157,000, his jaw dropped. His eyes lit up. He couldn't believe it.
Les Defelice
“Two and a half employees and we get a $157,000 bill?” said Awtry, who works part time and handles a variety of duties. “It was earth shattering. I thought that was it.”
It wasn't. Owner Russ McLellan put his wedding on hold because of the uncertainty, but he managed to hold the...
Briefs
March 31, 2004HME News Staff
Byram acquires hospital patient base
MILFORD, Conn. - Byram Healthcare Centers recently completed a patient base acquisition, further boosting its growth as a leading provider of medical supplies for patients in he home. Byram picked up the ostomy, diabetes and urological business of a hospital system in the Philadelphia and southern New Jersey area. Byram's vice president of acquisitions explained the deal as a win-win for the company and providers because “for most HME-companies, disposable...
Avenue Medical drives PT debate
March 31, 2004HME News Staff
DOVER, Del. - Adam Samuel's competition screamed “conflict of interest” last summer when he hired a physical therapist to run Avenue Medical's new seating clinic.
Avenue Medical's Adam Samuel fits Hali Shiber, 6, for a standing frame.
Avenue's PT, Lois Brown, doesn't just evaluate the customer's physical condition. She also recommends equipment, fits it and provides it.
“It is controversial,” admitted Samuel, Avenue's president. “But ultimately, what happens is my...
Briefs
March 31, 2004HME News Staff
Rotech lands big CareCentrix deal
ORLANDO, Fla. - Apria may prefer to not do business with Gentiva's managed care network, CareCentrix, but Rotech is more than happy to take the referrals. Barely a month after Apria parted ways with Gentiva and waved good-bye to millions of dollars in business, Rotech signed on as a CareCentrix preferred provider. Rotech CEO Philip Carter said the deal could generate $25 million annually. Under the contract, Rotech will serve as a primary preferred provider of respiratory...
Setting sail into a stormy sea of change
March 31, 2004HME News Staff
The Medicare Prescription Drug Act has launched the HME provider into uncertain seas. Not since, the Balanced Budget Amendment of 1997 and the Six Point Plan of 1989 have HMEs faced such momentous change to their business. If the legislated changes are implemented, the cheese will not be exhausted, but it will be moved. The challenge? A new route to respectable profitability. Before reporting the following suite of stories, we asked HME providers for new opportunities and new ways to cut costs. Here...
Apria’s new study lays CPAP debate to rest
March 31, 2004HME News Staff
COSTA MESA, Calif. - Patients who are set-up on sleep therapy equipment in an Apria CPAP Center are achieving high rates of acceptance and compliance, according to a new study that involved more than 1,300 patients.
The results of the Apria Healthcare study, conducted between January 2000 and July 2003, found that 87% of patients who received education in a group setting at an Apria Center were using CPAP for 6.5 hours for two to three weeks after the set up.
Nearly four out of five patients reported...
Ostomy access in question
March 31, 2004HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - After finally adjusting to a much-revised HCPCS code set, the United Ostomy Association may soon be advocating for more coding changes.
This past winter, the UOA conducted three surveys, one in conjuction with AAHomecare, of patients and providers to determine if reimbursement and access had improved since the codes were revamped a year ago.
“We are just testing the waters and looking for additional information about whether patients truly are getting good access or if access...