Archive: April 2013
Quantum Rehab expands western branch
April 30, 2013HME News Staff
EXETER, Pa. - Quantum Rehab, a division of Pride Mobility Products, is boosting the production capacity, delivery capabilities, parts inventory and staff support for Quantum Western America, according to a press release. Based in Las Vegas, Quantum Western America expects the moves to increase business efficiency and help patients receive mobility products faster, the release noted. Additional personnel will be added in the following weeks to increase service capability. “With efficiency a...
Invacare board members buy shares
April 30, 2013HME News Staff
ELYRIA, Ohio - A trio of Invacare board members bought shares of the company's stock on April 29, according to news reports. Ellen Tauscher and Dale LaPorte each bought 1,000 shares at a cost of $12.30 and $12.24 for $12,297 and $12,240, respectively. William Weber bought 5,000 shares at a cost of $12.15 for $60,750.
Update on PMD demo: Spending drops 50%
April 30, 2013HME News Staff
BALTIMORE - Spending on power mobility devices (PMDs) has taken a nosedive ever since CMS implemented a demonstration project that requires providers to submit prior authorization requests before supplying equipment.In an update posted April 23, CMS indicates that spending per month on PMDs in seven demo states fell about 50%, from about $15 million in January 2012 to $7 million in December 2012. In non-demo states, spending also fell, from about $23 million in January 2012 to about $17 million in...
CareFusion pays $41M to resolve allegations
April 30, 2013HME News Staff
SAN DIEGO - CareFusion, a manufacturer of home infusion pumps and respiratory products, has reached an agreement in principle to pay $41 million to the government to resolve an investigation related to prior sales and marketing practices and its relationships with healthcare professionals, according to a press release. The company will record the charge in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 to establish a reserve for this amount. In connection with these matters, CareFusion has entered into a...
Van Halem Group hires Medicare clinician
April 29, 2013HME News Staff
ATLANTA - The van Halem Group has hired Jane Naig, RN, to serve as a senior clinical consultant, according to a press release. Naig has 30 years of experience in medical investigations, quality assurance and clinical data analysis from her time spent working for Medicare, where she focused on the areas of medical review and program integrity, the release noted. “The current regulatory environment and strict oversight of the industry make the insight of both nurses and auditors critical...
Numotion offers Active Controls system
April 29, 2013HME News Staff
ROCKY HILL, Conn. - Numotion, the company formed from the merger of ATG Rehab and United Seating and Mobility, now offers a midline mounting system for power wheelchair drive controls from Active Controls, according to a press release. The ReJoy joystick platform allows users to re-position armrest-mounted hand controls in up to three locations on any power wheelchair. The system components are coded for billing purposes as K0108, the release noted.
Still scratching my head
April 29, 2013Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
Against all odds, I found myself temporarily sucked in today by the video of last week's hearing on Medicare and DMEPOS, led by Sen. Claire McCaskill. Now I see what one industry insider, who attended the hearing meant, when I inquired how it went: "Sen. McCaskill is totally uninformed."
Now, to be fair, I didn't watch most of the hearing, just a snippet. While I understand (and support) McCaskill's concerns around shady marketing tactics, the snippet I saw showed a lawmaker getting caught in the...
Coming soon: HME store in retirement community
April 29, 2013HME News Staff
NAPLES, Fla. - Max-Wellness, a Cleveland-based health and wellness company, will open a Mini-Max store in an upscale retirement community in Naples, Fla., on May 7, according to a press release. The facility will be located on the 37,000 square-foot campus of Moorings Park, which has 700 residents. Product offerings will include mobility devices, braces, supports and other HME, the release noted. Max-Wellness CEO Michael Feuer characterized the store as a “prototype operation”...
Van Halem Group hires Medicare clinician
April 29, 2013HME News Staff
ATLANTA - The van Halem Group has hired Jane Naig, RN, to serve as a senior clinical consultant, according to a press release. Naig has 30 years of experience in medical investigations, quality assurance and clinical data analysis from her time spent working for Medicare, where she focused on the areas of medical review and program integrity, the release noted. “The current regulatory environment and strict oversight of the industry make the insight of both nurses and auditors critical...
TSS, CMS reach agreement
April 26, 2013HME News Staff
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - The Scooter Store has reached an agreement with CMS that lifts apayment freezeon the company, according to an article from mysanantonio.com. Thecompany can nowreceive payments from CMS, allowing it to avoid liquidation, according to the article. After The Scooter Store filed for bankruptcy April 15, CMS said it was entitled to freeze payments to the companyto offset millions in overpayments, the article noted. Under the agreement, The Scooter Store will continue to...