Archive: January 2006
Gentiva to lay off 75
January 31, 2006HME News Staff
MELVILLE, N.Y. - Three months after its managed care network, CareCentrix, lost a Cigna HealthCare contract, Gentiva announced in late December plans to lay off 75 workers in Connecticut.
In October, CareCentrix lost a Cigna contract for DME and respiratory services to Apria beginning Jan. 31, 2006. Although the managed care network held on to its contract for direct home nursing, the loss still delivered a $40-million hit for fiscal year 2006.
To minimize the blow, Gentiva plans to lay off 75...
Will Texas be next?
January 31, 2006HME News Staff
AUSTIN, Texas - A group of Texas rehab providers plans to introduce policy this year that would require credentials to provide custom wheelchairs.
The Greater Texas Rehab Providers' Council created a working group recently to draft the policy. The council intends to present the policy to the state's Medicaid program in late 2006, according to Tom Hafford, president of both the council and Mobility Dynamics in Cleburne, Texas.
The council hasn't decided what level of credentialing it will recommend,...
Freight policy at Sunrise Medical...
January 31, 2006HME News Staff
LONGMONT, Colo. - Here is Sunrise Medical's new freight policy that took effect of Jan. 9, 2006:
- All orders (parts and products) placed on the company's Web site (www.sunrisemedical.com) or via electronic data interface (EDI), regardless of order amount, will receive free freight. Previously, the company charged a $10 freight charge for Web orders under $100.
Not only is Web ordering quicker, it cuts down on mistakes.
"It is almost a seamless paper process," said Bob Von Kaenel, vice president...
Providers: The uncertainty surrounding maintenance and service has them worried, so they're reassessing their biz plans, including role of RTs
January 31, 2006HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine - HME providers have begun wracking their brains over how they will maintain current service levels, especially respiratory therapist visits, if a proposal to cap oxygen at 36 months passes muster with Congress.
"I think all of us are taking a step back and re-looking at our business plans," said Jill Spellman, president of Waukesha, Wis.-based Oxygen One. "Personally, I've tried to close my office door and ask myself, 'How do we keep patients at the top of the triangle and provide...
Diabetes patients report unpleasant drug side effects
January 31, 2006HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Patients taking two widely used diabetes drugs have reported blurry vision and swelling of the legs and feet, the Food and Drug Administration and manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline said in January. The company said it has received "very rare" reports of new or worsening diabetic macular edema in diabetic patients who have taken Avandia or Avandamet. The majority of those patients also reported peripheral edema, or swelling of the legs, ankles and feet, the company said in a letter sent last...
Repair business enjoys steady growth
January 31, 2006HME News Staff
VALPARAISO, Ind. - Former paramedic Dave Bucko wanted to remain in the healthcare field when he sought a career change. He found his opportunity at Medical Equipment and Diagnostics Repair, a division of American Medical Oxygen Sales based in Valparaiso, Ind.
"I've always had mechanical inclination," said Bucko. "The bench tech type of position fits me perfectly."
American consolidated its three separate in-house repair divisions in 2005 to improve efficiency and continuity of repairs, said Rob Newell,...
Speak as one
January 31, 2006HME News Staff
The mood was all gloomy and somber and black;
For Congress had taken another great whack
At the business that helps keep the ill safe at home.
The DME owners just sat there and groaned.
"What can we do, to prevent these disasters?"
Asked each to the others, as if they were masters
Of their fates, which were tied to Medicare's strings--
"There's nothing to do, oh no, not one thing!"
"Bidding will come, who cares who it harms?"
"And standards and cuts, despite all our charms."
"Then more cuts and...
Who's at fault: Doc or supplier?
January 31, 2006HME News Staff
I would like to respond to the brief article in the rehab section of the December 2005 issue of HME News, in which Dr. Paul Hughes, Region A medical director, makes several comments about the responsibilities of suppliers in obtaining adequate documentation for coverage of HME. His point that "a single piece of paper" is not adequate to document need for equipment is well taken. I also would agree that an ethical and up-to-date supplier would obtain additional documentation like hospital discharge...
Driving regs won't slow down technicians
January 31, 2006HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - New regulations that limit hours on the road for some HME delivery techs may be superfluous since most drivers work within those limits already.
The ruling won't have much--if any--effect on drivers, providers say.
"My drivers are on the road seven-and-a-half to nine hours a day," said Michael McDonald, president of Clinical 1 Home Medical in Weymouth, Mass. He employs six drivers, who keep detailed trip logs and schedules.
Under the new regs: Drivers of property-carrying commercial...
CMS considers extra incentive for auditors
January 31, 2006HME News Staff
BALTIMORE - CMS may offer financial incentives to auditors who discover underpayments to providers. Currently, the Recovery Audit Contractors receive only a percentage of recovered overpayments.
CMS discussed expanding the incentives at a special Open Door Forum recently. The forum addressed the agency's Recovery Audit Contractors: 3 Year Demonstration Project.
The demo, mandated by the Medicare Modernization Act, requires the use of contractors to identify Medicare underpayments and overpayments....