Archive: April 2006
'We're trying to be different'
April 30, 2006HME News Staff
As you've no doubt heard, or seen, or guessed, we're bringing back the HME Business Summit this year. I could tell you how successful we were last year, or how critically important it is to your business, yadda yadda, but those sales pitches bore me. They work, but they're a bore, right?
So I'll cut right to the chase--to how we're trying to be different, and what the grist looks like so far.
First, the big difference. This year, we're not doing a conference. We don't want to do that. There are other...
Face-to-face exams for all DME, supplies
April 30, 2006HME News Staff
COLUMBUS, Ohio - At an April 6 meeting, the Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Services (OAMES) and state officials finally agreed on a proposal that requires physician face-to-face exams for all DME and supplies.
"We're to the point where we believe this is the best we can do," said Kamela Yuricich, the association's executive director.
The two groups have gone back-and-forth for the better part of a year, with the state battling to establish a standard of care and the association lobbying to...
AAH's now onboard, too
April 30, 2006HME News Staff
In the past, AAHomecare has refused to support efforts to exempt particular HME products, including rehab, because the association believes NCB will harm providers of all products. As a national association, AAHomecare also feels obligated to lobby for the interests of all members (See HME News February 2005).
Yet, when it released its advocacy priorities for 2006, AAHomecare included exempting complex rehab from NCB as part of a list of rehab and assistive technology related priorities.
AAHomecare...
Hoveround opens Houston center
April 30, 2006HME News Staff
SARASOTA, Fla. - Hoveround has opened a customer service center in Houston to expand support services to more than 25 markets along the West Coast, the company announced March 15.
The new center, which employs 20 associates, allows the East Coast-based Hoveround to move "support resources closer to our clients in the West," said Calvin Cole, vice president of customer service, in a company release.
Hoveround was able to move into the Houston market when another healthcare company consolidated its...
CMS boosts oxygen research
April 30, 2006HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - CMS made a final determination March 23 that it will expand the use of home oxygen for Medicare beneficiaries participating in an approved clinical trial sponsored by the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute.
As part of the trial, oxygen therapy will be provided to beneficiaries with arterial oxygen partial measurements of 56 mmHg to 65 mmHg or oxygen saturation at or more than 89%.
CMS currently covers beneficiaries with arterial oxygen partial measurements of 55 mmHg or less or oxygen...
Sunrise Medical receives mobility product patent
April 30, 2006HME News Staff
LONGMONT, Colo. - Sunrise Medical received a broad-based patent covering key design concepts for its Quickie IRIS and Zippie IRIS tilt-in-space manual wheelchairs, the company announced in March. The IRIS uses a rotational tilt system in which the movement of the user's center of gravity is dramatically reduced or eliminated, Sunrise stated in a release. As the desired tilt angle is achieved, the IRIS's design ensures that both the wheelbase and the tilt carriage remain in symmetrical balance. By...
Slow reimbursement ties hands of Illinois providers
April 30, 2006HME News Staff
FREEPORT, Ill. - Slow Medicaid reimbursement has some Illinois providers digging deeper into their own pockets and turning away patients in an effort to keep afloat.
"A lot of people are complaining that (payments) are six or more months behind," said Alan Kirk, vice president of Elgin-based Total Home Care. "We don't feel it's any worse, we've just learned to work around it."
But that's not so easy for some smaller providers. Carolyn Sluiter, owner of Freeport Home Medical in Freeport, said that...
Cap rental debate divides HMEs
April 30, 2006HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - HME providers stand unified in their opposition to the new 36-month cap on Medicare oxygen reimbursement, but when it comes to eliminating the cap rental option for DME, disagreement reigns.
Even before the Deficit Reduction Act eliminated the cap rental option, many providers encouraged patients to choose Medicare's purchase option rather than continue to rent the equipment beyond 13 months.
"We don't want to be tied to that equipment indefinitely," said Phil Carter, HME manager for...
Rep. Lewis goes to bat for NCART
April 30, 2006HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - NCART's goal to carve out complex rehab and assistive technology products from national competitive bidding (NCB) now has legs.
Rep. Ron Lewis, R-Ky., a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, introduced a bill in the House of Representatives on March 16 that, if passed, would exempt medically necessary adaptive seating, positioning and mobility products and speech generation devices from NCB.
That's "great news" for providers like Tom McEnany, owner of Jacksonville, Fla.-based...
Women's health: Specialty shop feels like home
April 30, 2006HME News Staff
WASAU, Wis. - Step through the door of this tiny blue bungalow and you might find yourself ensconced on a sofa, drinking coffee and chatting with Beth Lotz, owner of the new Pink Ribbon Mastectomy Boutique and Gift Shop.
"I really like the spirit and attitude of the breast cancer survivors who have looked death in the face," said Lotz. "They've made life changes. I get to be a recipient of their wisdom and life happenings."
Lotz opened her shop in November 2005. The ABC-certified and registered fitter...