Archive: July 2012
Vendors in the news: Harmar Mobility, The MED Group
July 31, 2012HME News Staff
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Cortec Group, a New York-based private equity fund, has acquired Harmar Mobility, according to a press release from Harris Williams & Co., an investment bank that advised Harmar. The transaction closed July 20. “This transaction is evidence of the strong interest that continues in the sector, driven by investors' desire to find scalable business models in a growing market that is positioned to benefit from positive demographic trends, as well as increasing utilization...
Speakers give best business advice
July 27, 2012Liz Beaulieu, Editor
Editor's note: I sent an email to the speakers of this year's HME News Business Summit asking them for their “best business advice.” I thought it would be a good way to not only promote the Summit, but also put a face on this year's excellent crop of speakers. It turned out to be that—and much more. I've heard back from three speakers so far, and I like to think about what they have to offer as a “Chicken Soup for the Soul”—for the HME provider. Here's what...
Retail diabetes: How low will CMS go?
July 27, 2012Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
BALTIMORE - It was mail order vs. retail during last week's public hearing on inherent reasonableness (IR) for retail diabetes supplies, according to sources who attended the hearing.
"The retail pharmacies said they can't do it at very low prices and the mail-order providers said it was unfair to get paid less," said Cara Bachenheimer, senior vice president of government relations for Invacare.
CMS scheduled the hearing to discuss whether prices for retail are "grossly excessive" and...
Power mobility: Get support, sell the 'a-ha'
July 27, 2012John Andrews
With capped rentals, audits and competitive bidding severely curtailing cash flow and sales opportunities, HME providers need help to withstand the challenging power mobility market. In response, the vendor community has developed a series of programs to serve as a financial lifeline for those impacted by industry changes.By working more closely with their provider customers, vendors say that together they can forge new strategies to ease the cash pinch and increase the viability of the business.For...
Kentucky derby: Genesis expands its reach
July 27, 2012Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
NEW BOSTON, Ohio - There's something about Kentucky for the Ohio-based Genesis Oxygen and Home Medical Equipment.In April, the provider acquired Wright Care Home Medical in South Shore, Ky., just across the river from its New Boston, Ohio, headquarters. It's the fourth acquisition in Kentucky in recent years for Genesis.“They're not real big but they fit right in with us,” said Jamie Blair, vice president for Genesis. “We're off and running.”Genesis retained Wright Care's...
Gas prices keep biz from further growth
July 27, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
ELMHURST, Ill. - High gas prices have serious consequences for HME providers, Phil Kerr told the House Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access June 25. Kerr, president of Elmhurst, Ill.-based Home Medical Express, recently told HME News why gas prices and competitive bidding are putting the industry in a tough position.HME News: What has been your experience with rising fuel prices?Phil Kerr: In 2009 my fuel costs were $126,000; they were $247,000 last year. My business...
Showroom lets users 'see, touch, feel' complex rehab
July 27, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
DENVER, Colo. - Provider Patrick Mahncke doubled his square footage in June to add something he'd never seen before: a complex rehab showroom.
“We wanted to foster an environment where someone who needed complex rehab, whether a custom manual or power wheelchair, could come in and touch and feel and see,” said Mahncke, owner of Denver-based USA Mobility. “We want them to make informed decisions based on their preferences, not only cosmetically but functionally.”
Mahncke...
Workplace safety
July 27, 2012Joe Rosner
Q. Is my HME business at risk for workplace violence?A. You've seen the news. An unhappy customer, disgruntled co-worker or domestic partner goes “postal” at work. After sadness and shock your next reaction is likely, “Could it happen in my business to the people I care about?” Yes, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, which says that 9,000 healthcare workers a day are victims of workplace violence. Health care is only 18% of the workforce,...
In brief: Bidding study, AirSep acquisition, public-private fraud effort
July 27, 2012HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - Home medical equipment revenues in Iowa could drop by $99.4 million once competitive bidding prices are implemented in 2016, according to a new study. The number of HME providers will also fall, says Ken Brown, a professor at the University of Northern Iowa, who put together the study for The VGM Group. The study also found that, as HME providers go out of business, the impact of competitive bidding will have a ripple effect. Companies that provide services to HME providers, including...
PMD demo: CMS may change stance on accessories
July 27, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
WASHINGTON - The newest draft version of an operations guide for the power mobility device (PMD) demonstration project includes a word providers have been hoping to see: accessories.A note in the guide, "Accessories: reserved for future use," which is listed with the PMD codes that will be included in the demo, is a placeholder, CMS officials stated during an Open Door Forum July 27."At this point in time, we have not made a decision," said Doris Jackson, a health insurance specialist at CMS, during...