Archive: August 2013
In brief: Court approves Rotech's plan, Shoprider launches rehab biz
August 30, 2013HME News Staff
ORLANDO, Fla. - A bankruptcy court in Delaware has approved Rotech Healthcare's reorganization plan, paving the way for the company to emerge from Chapter 11 in September, it announced Aug. 29. “We said at the outset this would be a swift passage through the reorganization plan, and it has been,” said Steven Alsene, president and CEO of Rotech, which filed for bankruptcy in April. “We have successfully completed an important milestone in the financial restructuring that positions...
Manufacturers reassess terms
August 30, 2013Liz Beaulieu, Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine - With three high-profile HME providers now moving through the bankruptcy process, should it come as a surprise that manufacturers are trying to protect themselves by tightening their payment terms?
Providers who responded to a recent HME NewsPoll say the days of 90-day payment terms are long gone. Instead, they say they're lucky to get 60 days and, in some cases, they're getting 45 days or less.
Manufacturers declined to provide specific payment terms to HME News—“We...
PMD demo hits one-year mark
August 30, 2013Elizabeth Deprey
YARMOUTH, Maine - With a year now under their belts, providers say there is a mixture of pros and cons to the power mobility device (PMD) demonstration project. “It's been a learning process for everybody—CMS, suppliers and doctors,” said Patrick Maxey, operations manager and ATP at Orange Park, Fla.-based Medco Incorporated.Providers in seven states—California, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Florida—began submitting prior authorization...
Sleep Nation makes 38th buy this year
August 30, 2013HME News Staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Sleep Nation, Inc., is taking advantage of a changing market by continuing to make acquisitions. The CPAP provider announced Aug. 29 that it has made its 38th purchase this year and the 43rd since its inception in May of 2012. “We have invested significant resources into our platform's systems and now are starting to reap benefits as we spread our fixed costs over more and more orders,” stated CEO Richardson Roberts in a press release. The Franklin, Tenn.-based...
Court approves Rotech's reorganization plan
August 30, 2013HME News Staff
ORLANDO, Fla. - A bankruptcy court in Delaware has approved Rotech Healthcare's reorganization plan, paving the way for the company to emerge from Chapter 11 in September, it announced Aug. 29.“We said at the outset this would be a swift passage through the reorganization plan, and it has been,” said Steven Alsene, president and CEO of Rotech, which filed for bankruptcy in April. “We have successfully completed an important milestone in the financial restructuring that positions...
Friday fun facts
August 30, 2013Liz Beaulieu, Editor
Since it's Friday, and since I'm pulling together some data for our 2013 State of the Industry Report, I thought I'd share a Top 10 list with you.
Here are the Top 10 providers for 2012 by amount allowed by Medicare:
1.) Lincare ($746,211,087)2.) Accredo Health Group ($375,246,527)3.) Apria Healthcare ($361,719,649)4.) Liberty Medical Supply ($302,675,152)5.) Lincare Pharmacy Services ($209,024,041)6.) Walgreen Co. ($195,218,374)7.) KCI USA ($172,178,074)8.) DEGC Enterprise ($120,823,881)9.) Hanger...
Shield HealthCare contest opens Sept. 3
August 30, 2013HME News Staff
VALENCIA, Calif. - What makes health care rewarding? Tell Shield HealthCare for a chance to win a gift card and a one-year subscription to Today's Caregiver Magazine. Shield HealthCare announced its 13th annual caregiver story contest in an Aug. 28 press release. The contest, which the company holds to honor the work of family caregivers and healthcare professionals, runs from Sept. 3 through Nov. 30. Last year's winners included two mothers of children with special needs; and a daughter caring for...
CMS throws safety net to oxygen patients
August 30, 2013Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
BALTIMORE - It appears CMS has finally realized that you can't get blood from a stone—or oxygen equipment and services from an HME provider that has gone out of business.CMS announced on Aug. 22 that, effective immediately, a new provider can replace oxygen equipment and restart a 36-month rental period when another provider exits the business. The agency will consider the original equipment lost.“CMS is hearing that oxygen patients are being abandoned,” said Kim Brummett, senior...
OIG will 'peel back onion' on CMS, stakeholders say
August 30, 2013Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - If an investigation by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) goes the HME industry's way—and stakeholders believe it will—CMS will no longer be able to blow off concerns about competitive bidding.The OIG on Aug. 22 notified Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, that it will conduct a “limited scope review” in Tennessee, Maryland, Michigan and Ohio to address concerns that, as part of Round 2 of the program, CMS awarded contracts to providers that...
AAHomecare joins in coding reform effort
August 29, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Due to lack of oversight and industry input, AAHomecare believes the current CMS coding system does not accurately describe items and services covered and reimbursed. That's why the association has signed on to a letter from the Alliance for HCPCS II Coding Reform asking for increased transparency and due process. At CMS's request, the alliance has developed a list of recommendations for improving the process, including separating coding decisions and coverage policies; establishing...