Archive: May 2011
Is POC use going up or down?
May 31, 2011Liz Beaulieu, Editor
Did anyone else raise an eyebrow when the Government Accountability Office stated in a recent report that use of portable oxygen concentrators has gone down while use of stationary concentrators has gone up from 2001 to 2008?
Shouldn't it be the other way around?
The GAO theorizes that the way Medicare pays for oxygen therapy—its rental payment for stationary concentrators includes payment for portable oxygen refills even though, one-third of the time, they're not provided—discourages...
Dial-a-pharmacist? Can you say 1-800 good luck?
May 31, 2011Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
An indy pharmacy in Vermont has been sold. The new owner, Kinney Drugs, plans to operate it as a "remote" pharmacy. What's that, you ask?
There won't actually be a pharmacist on-hand. A pharmacy tech will fill the scripts using a computer link with a pharmacist. Got a question for the pharmacist? You'll have to dial an 800 number: If you'd like to speak with a pharmacist, press 1.
How cold and impersonal can you get? (Disclaimer: I use CVS and have no idea who the pharmacist is, nor do I ever have...
Vendors on the move: TAG, Carex, Ergolet
May 31, 2011HME News Staff
NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio - The Aftermarket Group has launched a new and improved website, the company announced this week. New features of www.aftermarketgroup.com include the ability to search for part numbers, manufacturers and product categories; installation videos and PDFs; and MSRP and provider pricing. TAG provides replacement parts and supplies.
Carex ramps up
NORWELL, Mass. - Carex Health Brands has moved its corporate headquarters to Boston to support an expanding marketing team, the company...
Independent pharmacies seek carve out
May 30, 2011Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Independent pharmacies are making another play at keeping themselves out of the competitive bidding program.
On May 23, Reps. Aaron Shock, R-Ill. and Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced the Medicare Access to Diabetes Supplies Act, which seeks to exempt independent pharmacies with 10 or fewer locations from having to competitively bid for diabetes testing supplies.
"We think it has multiple wins for everybody," said John Coster, senior vice president of government affairs for the National...
OIG frowns on pay-to-play arrangement
May 30, 2011Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - HME providers may want to think twice about paying a fee to electronically receive and respond to referral requests from hospitals, say industry attorneys.
An unnamed company that provides online referral services requested the Office of Inspector General's opinion on a proposed arrangement whereby it would charge post-acute providers an implementation fee and a monthly fee to electronically receive and respond to referral requests. In an advisory opinion posted May 20, the OIG stated...
Congressional staffers get up close and personal with bidding problems
May 30, 2011Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - A pair of Hill briefings May 24 should leave no doubt in the minds of congressional staffers, including for the first time those in the Senate, that competitive bidding is a disaster, say industry stakeholders.
"CMS is doing an atrocious job with the DME auction program," was the first slide in Prof. Peter Cramton's presentation to the 60 or so House staffers who attended the morning hearing. That message carried over to an afternoon briefing for about 40 Senate staffers.
"I see the...
Providers face tornado's aftermath
May 30, 2011Elizabeth Deprey
JOPLIN, Mo. - When a 165-mph tornado tore through here on May 22, it didn't take long for Apria's team to get right into the action.
Within 30 minutes of the tornado, Apria employees went out to help triage at a makeshift hospital. Manager Steve McCluney delivered oxygen, regulators and other supplies late into the night.
"Everyone just showed up, ready to go to battle," said McCluney. "We helped patients from all DME companies, because it was a humanitarian effort, because of the chaos and destruction....
Independent pharmacies seek carve out
May 30, 2011Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Independent pharmacies are making another play at keeping themselves out of the competitive bidding program.
On May 23, Reps. Aaron Shock, R-Ill. and Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced the Medicare Access to Diabetes Supplies Act, which seeks to exempt independent pharmacies with 10 or fewer locations from having to competitively bid for diabetes testing supplies.
"We think it has multiple wins for everybody," said John Coster, senior vice president of government affairs for the National...
ResMed does some spring cleaning
May 30, 2011HME News Staff
SAN DIEGO - ResMed last week announced a reorganization that, among other things, creates a new business unit: ResMed Ventures and Initiatives.
ResMed Ventures and Initiatives will focus on opportunities in disease states related to sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and other market opportunities. JC Kyrillos will lead the unit as president.
"We are passionate about addressing the widespread ignorance which exists concerning the strong correlation between untreated SDB and such co-morbidities as...
In brief: Provider fuels growth, ActiveCare gets blockbuster role
May 30, 2011HME News Staff
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Mail order diabetes provider Care 1st Medical Solutions has secured a line of credit for up to $1.6 million to increase its direct marketing and growth efforts, it announced May 25. The company, which currently serves about 13,000 Medicare patients, plans to double its marketing efforts and is looking to add additional product lines, stated CEO Mike Eberly in a release.
ResMed launches iPhone app
SAN DIEGO - ResMed last week released the ResMed Sleep Assessment app for the...