Archive: July 2006
Sen. Grassley questions neb-med substitutions
July 31, 2006HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, expressed concern last month that some homecare companies and pharmacies are swapping prescribed respiratory medications with drugs they've compounded themselves--without telling patients or physicians. In a letter to top officials at CMS and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Grassley said Medicare patients are targeted for switching because suppliers can make money by billing Medicare for brand-name drugs and providing patients less expensive, pharmacy-made...
'Save the Mayor'
July 31, 2006HME News Staff
Bolivar, Mo. - Mayor Charles Ealy has a history of health problems, including a recent heart attack, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Tipping the scales at 368 pounds, he opened his life and medical records up recently for public consumption in this tiny town, as part of a campaign designed to save his life.
"Save the Mayor" is a program jointly started by Stephens Pharmacy and Homecare, the YMCA, the local hospital and the county health center to help the mayor regain his health.
"The...
ResMed revamps CPAP Web site
July 31, 2006HME News Staff
POWAY, Calif. - ResMed recently revamped its online resource site for patients, myresmed.com, with new content and tips on how to best use therapy product information. The free service is intended to help dealers and sleep clinicians educate and support new CPAP users. The site addresses common patient questions, allowing dealers to attend to more urgent patient needs. The site provides mask and accessory replacement reminders to patients. In addition to benefiting patients, it helps HMEs improve...
New Jersey schedules DME auction
July 31, 2006HME News Staff
TRENTON, N.J. - The state of New Jersey has taken a page from eBay's book and plans to use an online auction to sell more than 4,000 pieces of used DME in late July or early August.
This equipment was previously distributed by a contract provider that inventoried, collected, cleaned/sanitized, inspected and refurbished the equipment for redistribution to Medicaid clients throughout New Jersey--a process known as "recycling."
The equipment to be auctioned includes manual and electric beds, canes,...
NCB takes center stage at rehab forum
July 31, 2006HME News Staff
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Greater Texas Rehab Providers' Council holds its annual meeting, "Getting on Track," at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel here Aug. 2-5. The expected highlight: Three members of the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee (PAOC) for national competitive bidding will present a half-day open forum on NCB, including how it might affect the rehab industry. The meeting will also feature presentations on documentation requirements, new technology and Texas Medicaid. The council's president,...
VA contracts: Providers duke it out
July 31, 2006HME News Staff
DETROIT - If a protest filed by Rotech Healthcare passes muster in a federal court of claims, Mitchell Home Medical could lose a Department of Veterans Affairs contract to service 700 oxygen patients in the metropolitan Detroit area.
The VA on April 1, 2006, notified the Ypsilanti, Mich.-based Mitchell and another provider, First Community Care, of its intent to award them a contract to service two of seven locations in its Veterans Integrated Service Network 11 (Michigan, Indiana and Illinois)....
Provider networks hone NCB strategies
July 31, 2006HME News Staff
The MED Group plans to confront Medicare competitive bidding head-on by leveraging the combined muscle of its 240 members. Rather than bid individually, many MED members will join forces and bid as part of a provider network, said MED President and CEO Bill Elliott, who oversees the provider service organization.
"We're not supportive of the Medicare competitive bidding model as it has been laid out by CMS, but we want to be prepared to support our membership in that environment," he said.
MED is...
O2 cap upsets patients
July 31, 2006HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - When it comes to Congress' plan to cap oxygen reimbursement at 36 months, Harold Roth does not intend to be "a good sport."
"I understand the finances, but my life depends on oxygen--so does everyone's," said Roth, 72, one of about 10 oxygen patients who attended AAHomecare's Legislative Fly-in June 19-20. "I will not be a good sport, or participate in what I call the 'good sport syndrome': Just pack up and go away and die. I'm not in favor of that."
The former cardio-thoracic surgeon...
Specialty side niche broadens patient base
July 31, 2006HME News Staff
RAPID CITY, S.D. - With NCB on the horizon and Medicare cutting reimbursement like crazy, WestMed Rehab more than ever doesn't want all its eggs in one basket.
The provider recently ramped up its marketing efforts with an eye toward growing its orthotics and prosthetics business.
Locally, WestMed enjoys a 50% market share of O&P. It also does custom rehab and respiratory.
"It spreads our liability a little to be more diverse," said Tim Pederson, CEO. "That way we don't have every segment of our...
Still wanted: Sponsor for Senate bill
July 31, 2006HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The HME industry in early July continued to scour the Senate for a sponsor to champion a bill that, like the Hobson-Tanner bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, would lessen the blow of competitive bidding.
The industry wanted a Senate sponsor to introduce a bill by the end of July. That would allow providers and other stakeholders, with bill in hand, to lobby senators during their annual August recess.
"They'll be back in D.C. at the end of August, and from then until October,...