Archive: May 2006
PWC rule: Providers, CMS read reaction differently
May 31, 2006HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine - CMS rubbed the rehab industry the wrong way when it included a sentence in its final rule for power mobility devices that implies providers had no problems with the agency's documentation changes.
The sentence, in section 17023, reads: "The industry response has been very positive."
In their comments to CMS, industry sources concede that they called a few of the final rule's requirements positive, namely the requirement that beneficiaries visit a physician for a face-to-face exam...
IAMES: Bill is 'primary driver'
May 31, 2006HME News Staff
NAPERVILLE, Ill. - At its annual meeting in late April, the Illinois Association for Medical Equipment Services (IAMES) agreed that lobbying for the Hobson-Tanner bill should be its top priority this summer.
At press time, only one of 19 Illinois representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives had signed on to co-sponsor H.R. 3559: Rep. Ray LaHood.
"Our primary driver for the next six months is taking a more proactive lead in getting co-sponsors," said John Tripp, president of IAMES and vice...
Category: Scooters
May 31, 2006HME News Staff
Key competitors:
- "Big box" discount stores that carry consumer health products.
Key advantages of the independent hme shop:
- Image as a complete mobility provider with a local identity, knowledgeable staff and after-sale service.
Key marketing trend:
- Data mining--Building a demographic database and using it to send out direct mailings, bill stuffers and e-mail messages to prospective and current clients.
Nursing homes: Lost opportunity?
May 31, 2006HME News Staff
CARMEL, Ind. - Despite a Medicare landscape that includes a new 36-month cap on oxygen reimbursement, Kevin Merritt, president and CEO of oxygen provider RCS Management, isn't losing any sleep. Even the threat of a 13-month oxygen cap proposed in President Bush's FY2007 budget doesn't faze him. Why? Although RCS has four HME operations, his company generates 85% of its revenues supplying oxygen to nursing homes. Currently, it has 900 nursing homes under contract in 13 states. With a recent infusion...
Viasys restructures sales and marketing
May 31, 2006HME News Staff
CARLSBAD, Calif. - Viasys Respiratory Care plans to restructure its sales and marketing department into three divisions: sleep diagnostics/therapy, critical care and pulmonary diagnostics. The restructuring will align the company with its customer's specialties and form a more responsive and efficient organization, Viasys stated in a recent release. Viasys Respiratory Care is part of Viasys Healthcare. The company has appointed Rebecca Mabry as general manager, sleep diagnostics and therapy; Ruth...
Telehealth: Where do providers fit in?
May 31, 2006HME News Staff
Home medical equipment providers may very well have a place in the supply chain for telehealth products and services in the near future, but one market expert recommends they look at all the variables before committing any resources toward this new frontier.
Gregg Malkary, managing director and founder of Menlo Park, Calif.-based Spyglass Consulting Group, recently published a comprehensive study of the telehealth market, which he refers to as Remote Patient Monitoring. The report identifies the...
Joint venture mines Part D benefit
May 31, 2006HME News Staff
HAYLEYVILLE, Ala. - After the dust from the new Medicare Part D program settled, Brent McNutt saw an opportunity to get into the retail pharmacy business--and bring fellow HME providers along for the ride.
In March, McNutt rolled out Global Pharmacy and Medical Equipment, adding retail pharmacy to his traditional DME/oxygen and respiratory meds business. He also unveiled a joint venture program in which Global partners with other providers seeking to expand into retail pharmacy.
"What we're offering...
Clearing up a CMN conundrum
May 31, 2006HME News Staff
Q. I thought that the manual chair CMN was eliminated along with the scooter and power wheelchair CMNs on Oct. 1, 2005, but I've heard otherwise. Please clarify.
A. When the national coverage determination (NCD) became effective for dates of service on or after May 5, 2005, the CMNs for mobility assistive equipment (manual chairs, power operated vehicles and power wheelchairs) were essentially rendered useless for medical necessity, as they did not reflect the new coverage criteria. Even though the...
Why some HMEs say 'No' to high-tech O2
May 31, 2006HME News Staff
In April's HME News Poll, 66.7% of providers responded that despite recent cuts to Medicare respiratory reimbursement, they would not invest in oxygen equipment designed to reduce deliveries and a company's overall operational costs. The remaining third apparently believe that, while more expensive to purchase initially, this new technology will lower their overall costs of providing oxygen over the useful life of the equipment. While not enough data exists to explain the poll results with total...
Care Medical hosts PWC workshop for docs, clinicians
May 31, 2006HME News Staff
PORTLAND, Ore. - Care Medical was scheduled to host a workshop here June 1 for area physicians and clinicians who wanted more information on CMS's new documentation requirements for power mobility devices. The workshop, sponsored by Pride Mobility, Quickie and The Med Group, featured a presentation by Dr. Robert Hoover, a former Region D medical director who's currently the senior vice president of clinical services for Sunrise Medical. "We felt this was an important step to gaining better relationships...