Archive: April 2009
Lobbying: Providers learn to dive in
April 30, 2009HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine--As lawmakers tackle healthcare reform, providers must ensure that they understand the issues affecting the HME industry. They're answering that call, according to the results of the April HME NewsPoll.
Eighty-eight percent of respondents say they have contacted their elected officials already this year.
“It is important to know our officials and their office staff,” writes provider Tim Pederson, CEO of WestMed Rehab in Rapid City, S.D. “If we only contact them...
'I don't know' won't cut it
April 30, 2009HME News Staff
Q. What can HME providers expect when it comes to audits and recoupments by state Medicaid programs?
A. The Bush administration intentionally squeezed state Medicaid budgets. Despite its every effort, it was only able to implement modest reductions in Medicaid spending. Still, those reductions resulted in millions of dollars in savings.
The Bush Administration then decided that the best way to save additional money in the Medicaid program was to create incentives for states to recoup money by identifying...
Mobility Specialists spiffs up Web site
April 30, 2009HME News Staff
AUBURNDALE, Fla.--Mobility Specialists launched a new Web site in March. The site, www.mobilityspecialists.net, provides information about the company's products and services. President Butch Vanderpool says the site better reflects the character of the company. “We go above and beyond to make our referral sources happy, making sure each of our patients experiences the very best in customer service,” he stated in a release.
Industry pulls out all stops
April 30, 2009HME News Staff
With national competitive bidding hanging over their heads again, industry stakeholders participated in a flurry of lobbying activity during the April Congressional recess.
On April 6, the Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers (PAMS) hosted an “HME Survival Summit” in Pittsburg that was attended by U.S. Reps. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., and Tim Murphy, R-Pa. The next day, The VGM Group's Van Miller hosted a fundraiser at his home in Waterloo, Iowa, for U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.
“People...
Forum gives industry something to talk about
April 30, 2009HME News Staff
COLUMBUS, Ohio- When Definitive Homecare Solutions (DHS) developed an online forum for its software customers, the company realized just how eager providers were for a place to talk shop.
Answering the call, DHS recently developed HME Talk, an e-mail-based discussion board that allows HME professionals to ask questions, exchange information and “share ideas beyond the four walls of their own businesses.”
“Rather than turning daily billing tasks into research projects, we've seen...
Online provider fosters community
April 30, 2009HME News Staff
BOCA RATON, Fla.--Online provider Total e-Medical entered the blogosphere in March with the launch of its News Blog.
“We wanted to give our patients and our prospective patients a place where they could go and read the latest news in their care areas,” said Nicole Balistreri, marketing and communications director for the company. “There's tons of diabetic blogs, but if you've got an ostomy, there aren't a lot of places where you can go to read the different things that are happening...
Petersen Medical celebrates 40 years
April 30, 2009HME News Staff
OREM, Utah--Petersen Medical recently completed a service project for every year it has been in business: 40.
The projects included everything from redecorating a room at a Ronald McDonald House to volunteering with Angel Hands, a Utah-based foundation that seeks to improve the lives of individuals living with rare diseases, to raking leaves in local parks.
“There aren't a ton of companies in a small city like ours that make it this long,” said John Zappe, director of operations. “So...
Provider pickle
April 30, 2009HME News Staff
Supporters seek to reclassify oxygen suppliers as providers as a way to get the product category eliminated from competitive bidding. The logic: Providers offer services - and equipment, not services, are competitively bid. But opponents say the strategy could backfire. If the industry succeeds in getting oxygen eliminated from NCB, members of Congress may seek to make up those savings with an across-the-board cut to the benefit, they say.
“One of the main concerns of the independent provider,...
'Frustrating' policy standardizes repairs
April 30, 2009HME News Staff
BALTIMORE--Few providers consider wheelchair repairs a profit center, but the business recently become even less attractive, they say.
On April 1, providers had to start billing for repairs using standardized labor times. With each allowed unit of service representing 15 minutes of labor, they're now allowed to bill two units to repair or replace a battery on any power wheelchair; one unit to repair or replace each wheel or tire on any power or manual wheelchair; and so on.
But repairs aren't that...
Scrutiny continues for NPWT
April 30, 2009HME News Staff
WASHINGTON--The Office of Inspector General (OIG) in March said CMS pays way too much for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).
The report, “Comparison of Prices for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy,” states that providers pay, on average, $3,604 for new pumps. Medicare reimburses $1,716 a month for the pumps for the first three months and $1,287 for months four through 13.
This isn't the first time NPWT has come under scrutiny. Utilization of pumps jumped 444% between 2001 -...