Archive: October 2007
Ambiguous process needs overhaul
October 31, 2007HME News Staff
Q. A recent PMD probe indicates that documentation requirements are still confusing. What can be done to improve this?
A. It's time to take the guesswork out of the equation for physicians. CMS needs to develop a comprehensive clinical guide. When physicians are asked about the process for prescribing PMDs, they express frustration with the current documentation standard. Why? There is no standard process. Doctors are desperately trying to understand how to get Medicare to pay for PMDs. A recent...
FDA clears liquid O2 generation device for home
October 31, 2007HME News Staff
NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Respiratory device company Inspired Technologies announced in September that it has obtained FDA 510(k) approval for its VIAspire Liquefier, a device that makes liquid oxygen in the home for patients requiring oxygen therapy. The VIAspire Liquefier maintains two liters of liquid oxygen that are always available to the patient. Compatible with the VIAspire Liquefier are oxygen portables (pending FDA 510(k) approval) in three different sizes, allowing patients to maintain active...
Ensure survey success
October 31, 2007HME News Staff
After more than 12 years working in compliance, training, billing and collections for large HME providers, Angela Miller knows a thing or two about compliance. She started her own compliance, billing and collections consulting firm, Medical Auditing Solutions LLC, in 2006 to help providers navigate this aspect of their business, which she says comes with a "huge learning curve." Miller says too few providers make the investment in compliance that's needed, and they may be opening themselves up to...
'Now we can fight with the big dogs'
October 31, 2007HME News Staff
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - Roscoe Medical has no plans to abandon its roots as a distributor of home medical equipment, but it will continue to add to its own line of products.
"We can be more competitive this way," said President Jesse Keirn. "A couple of years ago, we were just distributing other people's products. Now we can fight with the big dogs, so to speak."
At this year's Medtrade, Roscoe will unveil its own line of bath safety products (bath benches, transfer benches, bath safety rails, raised...
Oregon providers fight back
October 31, 2007HME News Staff
EUGENE, Ore. - Providers in September were lobbying the 20 members of an emergency board to repeal a nearly 17% reimbursement cut to home medical equipment and supplies.
Providers met with Sen. Jackie Winters, R-District 10, on Sept. 26. She recommended they write a letter detailing how access and service would be comprised due to the cut, said Tom Coogan, president of the Pacific Association for Medical Equipment Services (PAMES).
"She's come to our assistance in the past," said Coogan, director...
Medicaid gets makeover
October 31, 2007HME News Staff
CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire's DME community has worked diligently to bring the state's Medicaid program in line with other states, getting several bills passed.
In June, a bill passed that requires The Department of Health and Human Services to set fee schedules for all provider groups for billing rates, medical equipment and services, and review them every two years.
"New Hampshire Medicaid has always had a different type of fee schedule than other states, and we're trying to update them to using...
Define measurable goals for employee success
October 31, 2007HME News Staff
Q. How do I align my business goals and staff incentives properly?
A. Frequently, company incentive programs (if they exist) do not support and reward goal achievement. In order to build a "high margin" patient base, the first step is to determine profitability by product line and payer. Once those targets have been established, it is important to be certain that everyone in the company understands these priorities and to develop a marketing strategy with a laser-like focus on generating patient...
Pennsylvania proposes power wheelchair cuts
October 31, 2007HME News Staff
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Providers were shocked on Sept. 24 when Medicaid announced it would pay only 80% of the Medicare allowable for power mobility devices, effective immediately.
For a scooter, that means where Medicare reimburses $1,292, Medicaid now reimburses $1,034. It used to reimburse $1,695, according to John Shirvinsky, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers (PAMS).
"That's a 37% cut," he said. "The new reimbursement rates are such that there may be a mass exodus...
Questions surround proposal
October 31, 2007HME News Staff
While CMS appears to be leaning toward covering at-home sleep testing, the devil is in the details, industry leaders say.
Who can perform the tests and what type of patient qualifies are just two of the many unanswered questions.
"What types of equipment will be required, how many channels are needed?" said Joe Lewarski, vice president of Invacare's respiratory products group. "Who can do the prescribing, who can do the testing? Those details will have to be worked out."
One model CMS could follow:...
Committee audits Medicaid
October 31, 2007HME News Staff
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Providers who believe Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, has given them mixed signals over power wheelchair reimbursement now have the support of a legislative committee.
A 12-member Joint Legislative Audit Committee held a hearing in August and voted unanimously to audit Medi-Cal for charging rehab providers with violating an obscure upper billing limit rule. The audit--which will consume 1,740 hours and cost $147,000, said Tom Lambert, president of Maximum Comfort in Redding,...