Archive: September 2004
Women’s Health Boutique opens store in cyberspace
September 30, 2004HME News Staff
CYPRESS, Texas - The Women's Health Boutique in August launched a new Web site and online store it hopes will boost revenues and strengthen the franchise's brand recognition.
The provider spent 18 months and $15,000 redesigning the old Web site, first launched in 1999, and creating the new e-commerce store. The company worked closely with industry experts and its franchise owners in developing the site, www.w-h-b.com.
“There is no reason a person should go without the special products or services...
Lincare pharmacy sues vial manufacturer
September 30, 2004HME News Staff
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Lincare's respiratory pharmacy, Med4Home, is suing the manufacturer of vials that prompted a huge contamination scare early last year.
The lawsuit against DLJ Pharmaceutical contends that defective vials contaminated more than a million doses of compounded albuterol/ipratropium.
After Med4Home discovered the problem, the pharmacy decided not to recall the shipped drugs. The Board of Pharmacy later faulted Med4Home for that decision and ordered the supplier to cease compounding...
Clock ticks on FEHBP fight
September 30, 2004HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - While it may appear like an uphill battle, there's still reason to hope that the industry can stave off FEHBP reimbursement cuts to key DME products lines slated for 2005.
First, a chance exists - however slim - that lawmakers could pass a bill this year that repeals the cuts. If that doesn't happen, CMS could postpone the cuts to address congressional concern that the reductions are unfair.
As of early September, 41 members of Congress had signed onto H.R. 4491, legislation that would...
Legal
September 30, 2004HME News Staff
Doing away with AOBs
with Clay Stribling
Q.What impact will the proposed changes to the assignment of benefit guidelines have on my documentation policies?
A.Current CMS regulations require a beneficiary to assign a claim to a supplier - using an assignment of benefits form - even if the supplier is required to accept assignment on the item.
Recent regulations proposed by CMS would eliminate the need for certain providers to obtain an assignment of benefits form from the beneficiary. The revised...
Cuervo leaves AAH staff
September 30, 2004HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Asela Cuervo, an industry stalwart since she came on as NAMES' director of regulatory affairs in 1996, has left her position as AAHomecare's senior vice president and general counsel to open her own law office.
For the immediate future, Cuervo will continue to work for AAHomecare on a consulting basis.
“Certainly there is no paucity of issues for the association. Everyone is working very very hard to address all of them,” said Cuervo.
The association plans to find a replacement...
Eight years later, dot-com ready for prime time
September 30, 2004HME News Staff
The father-son duo behind HMEproviders.com is finally ready to introduce themselves - eight years after they started.
At long last, Mike and Brian Sowards say the timing is right to launch a blitzkrieg campaign promoting their dot-com venture because they have the products, support and programs in place to provide a truly unique marketing option for the HME industry.
“We now have the products that can really help out the independent provider,” said Mike, who serves as president of the...
Nevada senator carries fight to CMS
September 30, 2004HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - In a letter to CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., urged Medicare not to cut reimbursement for respiratory drugs and other DME products to the point that suppliers stop providing them and, in turn, beneficiaries “lose access to these critically important services.”
In his letter, sent earlier this month, Ensign called CMS's plan to reduce reimbursement for respiratory drugs to the average sales price plus 6% “inadequate.” He explained...
Incontinence and skin care offer new retail horizon
September 30, 2004HME News Staff
Incontinence products have always been around, but changing demographics are causing vendors to look at a new sales venue to reach them: independent HME providers.
Institutions like hospitals and nursing homes remain the biggest customers for incontinence and companion skin care products and wholesale channels remain the major supply line, manufacturers say. But the general public has become a burgeoning new market with shopping preferences that are tailor-made for an HME retail center, said Simon...
ISG bolsters private label
September 30, 2004HME News Staff
HOLLISTON, Mass. - Invacare Supply Group is now offering private label distribution to HME providers in the hopes of filling a void left in the wound care market after New Brunswick, N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson exited the business last year.
“This is a great opportunity for us,” said Greg Bosco, director of merchandising and marketing for Invacare Supply Group. “That business has yet to recover since J & J left. It has been a tremendous drain on the remaining manufacturers and...
Not-so-strange bedfellows: politics & HME
September 30, 2004HME News Staff
SHERIDAN, Wy. - In August, former HME owner Dave Kinskey won 47% of the vote in a seven-person runoff election and became one of two candidates for mayor of this town of 15,000. Voters will pick a winner Nov. 2.
“Afterwards, this guy came up to me on the street and said, ‘You've got the wind at your back now,' Kinskey told HME News recently. “I said, ‘That's not wind. That's someone's hot breathe trying to catch up with me. I'm running like hell, and I'm not looking back.'”
Two...