Archive: April 2004
When it comes to change, CV Medical leads the charge
April 30, 2004HME News Staff
OKLAHOMA CITY - CV Medical Solutions isn't forgetting its rural roots, but it's hard to argue with the provider's move last September to consolidate operations in the Oklahoma City metro area.
CV Solutions consolidated four locations into one Oklahoma City location (above) and watched its revenue jump 20%.
The company's revenue is up 20% and with the increased efficiencies that came from integrating four separate locations under one roof, the bottom line has swelled, said CEO Tracey Wills.
“We...
Finance
April 30, 2004HME News Staff
Pending cuts shrink valuations
with Richard Glass
R. Glass
Q. I am worried about the cuts mandated by the Medicare Modernization Act and how it will affect the value of my company. Will the value of my business be adversely impacted? Has there already been a negative effect?
A. The biggest effect on HME valuations thus far relates to the pending 2005 cuts on respiratory medications. Even though it is not yet clear how the new rates will be established, buyers have reacted swiftly in their evaluation...
No wedges, please
April 30, 2004HME News Staff
In his commentary “”NSM's Ballard identifies K-11 problems and sees fixes” (April 2004), Mike Ballard tried to drive a wedge between suppliers of rehab power wheelchairs and K11 power wheelchairs. Such efforts will advance no one's interests, especially Medicare beneficiaries'.
We endorse a number of Mr. Ballard's first principles. However, he fails to acknowledge the existence of responsible K11 suppliers who take their duties to both the Medicare program and its beneficiaries...
Shield acquires 5,000 patients in Sterling deal
April 30, 2004HME News Staff
VALENCIA, Calif. - Shield Healthcare, one of the nation's largest disposable medical supply providers, has taken strides recently to ensure continued growth in the West.
Shield Healthcare recently opened its 10th sales center in Inland Empire, Calif.
In March, the company acquired 5,000 new ostomy, urological, enteral and incontinence patients from Hayward, Calif.-based Sterling Medical Marketing.
Sterling transferred its home health supplies business in order to concentrate on the development...
Sleep
April 30, 2004HME News Staff
ORLANDO, Fla. - Rotech created a buzz among respiratory providers recently when it announced a controversial drop-ship CPAP program that some feel could compromise patient care.
While dropshipping is nothing new, especially with canes, walkers, medical supplies and blood pressure monitors, mailing CPAP units and a training video to patients raised a number of clinical eyebrows. Specifically, many respiratory therapists wonder how Rotech, without providing face-to-face instruction and education for...
Come and get it - HME providers reduce deliveries
April 30, 2004HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine - When it comes to requiring or asking patients to pick up equipment rather than have it delivered, a surprising number of providers have jumped on the bandwagon. More than a few believe it leads to superior service, a better educated patient and increased compliance.
“I encourage all able patients to come to us for their equipment,” e-mailed David Thomas of Sleep Unlimited. “It's very simple, actually. We carry nearly all vendors' products, and it's nearly impossible...
The Scheme Team draws up brave new HME world
April 30, 2004HME News Staff
WILMINGTON, Del. - An industry coalition has ratified a new, structured framework that standardizes the names of HME products, establishes a hierarchy of product categories and sets units of measure.
The new schema is aimed at allowing products to be easily tracked.
Like a Dewey Decimal System for the HME industry, the new framework, or schema, seeks the creation of a common vernacular that will allow products to be easily tracked through a supplier's or a manufacturer's system.
Where do scooters...
J&J to dealers: Come have a look
April 30, 2004HME News Staff
Independence technologies, a J&J subsidiary, explored the development of a dealer network for iGlide at Medtrade.
WARREN, N.J. - Independence Technologies, the J&J subsidiary best known for its stair-climbing iBot power wheelchair, rolled out the welcome mat to HME suppliers at the Medtrade Spring show, one year after the company launched its iGlide manual assist wheelchair, which it planned to take direct to the end-user. At Medtrade, Independence declined to talk about its reasons for being at...
Power Ox: The greatest thing since sliced bread?
April 30, 2004HME News Staff
DECATUR, Ala. - The pulse oximetry testing system, Power Ox, unveiled by the Letco Companies in March has generated buzz for its apparent relief of the headache involved in qualifying Medicare patients for oxygen.
Power Ox allows providers to qualify oxygen patients using a hand-held palm pilot that collects data from the in-home pulse oximeter test. The DME then downloads the encrypted data to an independent diagnostic testing facility (IDTF), which reviews it and sends the results simultaneously...
Politics
April 30, 2004HME News Staff
ABCs of the CMN
With Tim Zipp
T. Zipp
Q. According to CMS, what does “bed or chair confined” mean?
A. While I agree with CMS that the coverage criteria for power wheelchairs has not changed since 1985, I do think that the definition of “bed or chair confined” changed with the revisions to the CMN in 1995-1996. In 1985 and today, the Coverage Issues Manual states that a wheelchair is covered “if the patient's condition is such that without the use of a wheelchair he...