Archive: August 2011
'I would drop (Medicare) in a heartbeat'
August 31, 2011Liz Beaulieu, Editor
When CMS on Aug. 19 announced the affected zip codes and product categories for Round 2 of competitive bidding, HME providers had a lot to digest. Here's what some of them said, straight from the horse's mouth.
Sandra Hoskin, president, American Medical Equipment, Houston
“My reaction to that is I want a Zoloft. This program is the biggest farce in this profession and I've been at it for the past 30 years. I know I have to move forward on this, and I plan on bidding, but to date, I've attended...
AmeriCare gets ahead of curve
August 31, 2011Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
PONTIAC, Mich. -- AmeriCare Medical in August launched a pilot program that will allow the provider to pick up where the hospital leaves off.
The "Total Care Experience," formed in partnership with St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, a hospital in the Trinity Health System, seeks to reduce hospital readmissions and cut Medicare costs.
"It made sense to get a program going now," said Stacey Murphy, vice president of corporate development for AmeriCare.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2012, Medicare payments will be reduced...
Providers power up during hurricane
August 29, 2011HME News Staff
HME providers spanning the East Coast have been taking extra steps to make sure patients who lost power during Hurricane Irene have the medical attention they need.
AAHomecare sent out a press release this week, highlighting the actions of a handful of these providers:
Homecare Concepts
This provider in Farmingdale, N.Y., lost power but its employees have been coordinating care and service via cell phone to more than 100 patients also without power in the New York City area. “Those who were...
5 days, 5 bidding stories
August 26, 2011Liz Beaulieu, Editor
I'm about to give you a good reason to make HME News your home page. Or at least check it every day.
Even though we're a monthly publication, we have our HME Newswire each week and, in case you didn't notice, at least one new story on our website each day. This week, we posted a story related to CMS's Aug. 19 announcement on Round 2 of competitive bidding each day. Yup, that's five days and five bidding stories:
Monday: CMS releases Round 2 bidding information
Tuesday:...
Time for re-accreditation? It can be intense
August 25, 2011Elizabeth Deprey
WASHINGTON - The mad rush for HME providers to get accredited after Medicare began requiring it in 2009 is starting up again, says Bob Weir, an accreditation consultant and surveyor. Weir has been conducting surveys all over the country and took a break to give providers some survey advice.
HME: What would you say to providers preparing to go through re-accreditation?
Weir: I think it's important for providers out there to realize that if they're asleep at the wheel, you can't put accreditation...
National program could leave small diabetes providers out in the cold
August 25, 2011Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
BALTIMORE - When it comes to bidding in the national mail order program for diabetes supplies, the deck could be stacked against smaller providers.
For starters, the scope of the program appears to be bigger than expected. In its Aug. 19 announcement, CMS stated that the mail order program includes the entire United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa, which could send shipping costs skyrocketing.
"I don't know what CMS is thinking about...
Rising obesity continues to feed bariatric market
August 25, 2011John Andrews
America's expanding waistlines show no sign of slowing down anytime soon, so the market for bariatric products remains strong, manufacturers say. An increasing number of expansive, heavy-duty products are being made for an emerging demographic that includes both genders and all ages, from pediatrics to geriatrics.
Today, nearly one-third of all adults are considered obese and that rate is rising. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six states had an obesity rate of...
Competitive bidding tool kit for providers
August 25, 2011HME News Staff
Various organizations and consultants are offering services to help HME providers maneuver the competitive program. They include:
The VGM Group
This member services organization held two webinars in July on "Successful Strategies for Competitive Bidding." It will also present on this topic at Medtrade in October. Additionally, at press time in August, it had a traveling seminar in the works.
FMI: www.vgmeducation.com
Agape Medical Management
This healthcare consulting and billing services company...
Briefs: On the way: Correction for custom prosthetic claims
August 25, 2011HME News Staff
BALTIMORE - Medicare will pay for certain custom prosthetic items under Part B when they are provided to a beneficiary during a non-covered Part A stay in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. These claims have been incorrectly denied since April 4. In a July 27 message, however, CMS stated it was issuing instructions to correct the problem, but that the correction would not be implemented until Jan 1, 2012. Until then, the DME MACs will reprocess any claims that were incorrectly denied when such...
New online store allows Enos to 'get feet wet'
August 25, 2011Elizabeth Deprey
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - Enos Home Oxygen and Medical Supply is adding a new online store to its website, a move the provider hopes will pay off in the future.
"The baby boomers, a lot of them are doing a lot of online shopping," said Jon Enos, vice president. "I figure it's going to be a developing market over the next 10 to 20 years so might as well get in there now."
Enos is taking advantage of an offer from Medline to host what Enos calls an "Amazon-like" store on the provider's website, offering...