Archive: March 2015
Hasco reports double-digit growth
March 31, 2015HME News Staff
ADDISON, Texas - Hasco Medical, a provider of wheelchair accessible vehicles, reported net revenues of $91 million for 2014, a 24.8% increase compared to 2013.It reported net income of $2.1 million, a 160% increase.“Our team continues its excellent execution by driving sales in our wheelchair vehicle sales and services business,” stated CEO Hal Compton in a press release. “These results are a testament to the increasing success of our brands and the successful delivery of our growth...
Brightree, Apacheta launch mobile solution
March 31, 2015HME News Staff
ATLANTA - Brightree and Apacheta have launched an integrated mobile delivery management solution to HME providers. Apacheta's solution integrates with Brightree, allowing providers to decrease costs, reduce paper, optimize productivity, track deliveries and assets, accelerate time to revenue for claims, and improve patient outcomes, according to a press release. “The Apacheta and Brightree mobile delivery management solution addresses our need to eliminate paper and optimize our logistics operations...
Stratice Healthcare partners with MED
March 31, 2015HME News Staff
CARMEL, Ind. - Stratice Healthcare has formed a strategic partnership with The MED Group, giving the company access to a network of more than 2,000 providers. “Through our collaboration with The MED Group, we are well positioned to scale our electronic prescribing platform to all major markets,” stated John Brady, CEO and co-founder of Stratice Healthcare. Stratice Healthcare is a health information technology company and developer of eDMEplus, an electronic prescribing platform that...
AAH gets increased commitment from VGM
March 31, 2015HME News Staff
WASHINGTON �- AAHomecare has welcomed The VGM Group as a bronze level corporate partner. "We look forward to working more closely with AAHomecare, especially on the legislative front,” stated Van Miller, founder and CEO of The VGM Group, in a press release. “In these challenging times, it is more important than ever that the interests of the entire industry are protected." AAHomecare now has 13 companies in its corporate partner program: Apria Healthcare, Brightree, Byram Healthcare,...
Please tell me there's room at the inn
March 30, 2015Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
One thing about a flight to Vegas: there's a lot of men wearing gold chains on the plane. Not on the first leg of the flight, from Portland, but from our Detroit connection. Real Mainers aren't flashy. They are however, quite pasty at this time of year.
Following a day of uneventful travel, we arrived at our hotel, you know the one, it looks like a giant pyramid and sphinx, only to find the hotel couldn't find any of our reservations. That's got to be right up there with cancelled flights and lost...
O&P bill tackles accreditation, audit issues
March 27, 2015Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Senate introduced bills last week that seek to apply accreditation and licensure requirements to O&P providers who bill Medicare.About one-third of O&P providers aren't accredited, says Tom Fise, executive director of the American Orthotics and Prosthetics Association, which supports the bills.“Having bills introduced by members of both the House Ways and Means and the Senate Finance committees is a good marker, in my mind (of the strength...
Short takes: CCS Medical, HOMES
March 27, 2015HME News Staff
CCS Medical has named Rodney Carson president and CEO. He joins the company from MDLIVE, the nation's second largest telehealth company, where he was president of operations. He also spent time as president of Liberty Medical's mail-order pharmacy business...The Home Medical Equipment Services Association of New England will present the April Mason Home Care Advocacy Award to Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., at the Northeast Post-Acute Care Symposium, May 11-13 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard,...
In brief: AAH supports study, Inogen ready to roll
March 27, 2015HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare is throwing its weight behind a study to determine the impact of education on compliance and outcomes for COPD patients.The association says it will help recruit HME providers and patients to participate in the Peer-Led O2 Infoline for Patient and Caregivers study, which is funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute.“As the national association for HME providers, AAHomecare is well positioned to help the PELICAN study recruit HME providers and their patients,”...
Complex rehab accessories: Lawmakers extend deadline for 'Dear Colleague' letter
March 27, 2015Tracy Orzel
WASHINGTON - Members of the House of Representatives will now have until April 15 to sign a “Dear Colleague” letter asking CMS not to apply competitive bid pricing to complex rehab wheelchair accessories.So far, 27 representatives have signed the letter, authored by six representatives on the Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means committees.“It's been a pretty hectic week on the Hill with budget issues and the 'doc-fix' bill,” explained Cara Bachenheimer, senior vice president...
Stakeholders 'optimistic' on binding bids
March 27, 2015Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders claimed another victory last week when the House of Representatives passed a permanent “doc fix” bill that contained binding bids language.“Lawmakers wanted to be sure H.R. 284 gets passed into law,” said Cara Bachenheimer, senior vice president of government relations for Invacare. “Assuming the Senate passes the 'doc fix,' the binding bids bill will pass.”Previously, the House on March 16 voted unanimously to pass H.R. 284,...