Archive: December 2017
Cutting overhead drives innovation in oxygen market
December 29, 2017John Andrews
Oxygen technology continues to make strides, from remote monitoring connectivity to product engineering that bolsters efficiency, durability and longevity. And while new product designs ultimately benefit the patient, they are also geared toward saving providers money in a hardscrabble reimbursement climate, manufacturers say.
“The goal of technological innovation is to drive better outcomes and lower costs across the board more efficiently,” said Biola Okunola, global marketing...
Specialization pays off for ISS
December 29, 2017Liz Beaulieu, Editor
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Exhibit space for the upcoming International Seating Symposium is such a hot commodity that there are 40-plus companies on a waiting list.Exhibit space for ISS, March 6-9, at The Westin Bayshore, here, is locked in at 75 companies, including Inspired by Drive, Permobil and Invacare.Maureen Story, who co-chairs the committee charged with planning ISS, spoke with HME News about why the event, which hops between Canada and the U.S. each year, has seen such dynamic growth.HME...
The year in review: Escalating turmoil, relief efforts dominate headlines
December 29, 2017HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine - Moves by managed care organizations to send more Medicaid business to large distributors was the most read story of 2017 at HME News.Here's that story, and nine other most read stories for 2017:#1States move to single-source more and more DME'They're commoditizing this portion of health care, and it's scary to think about how far they'll take it'YARMOUTH, Maine - Distributors have been picking up Medicaid contracts for incontinence supplies in a number of states for years....
CMS stacks deck against Medicaid
December 29, 2017Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - With little time to make an informed decision, an increasing number of states, including Georgia, Indiana and Washington, are planning to adopt Medicare reimbursement for certain DME to comply with a provision in the 21st Century Cures Act.CMS finally published a letter to state Medicaid directors on Dec. 27 with guidance on the provision—which requires CMS to cap its contribution to Medicaid reimbursement for certain DME at Medicare reimbursement—just three business...
Enter Amazon? Negative impact would be felt far and wide, say poll respondents
December 29, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine - Unsurprisingly, a large majority of providers fear the “Amazon effect” on the DME market, according to the results of a recent HME Newspoll.While Amazon already offers basic DME, the retail giant has reportedly applied for wholesale distribution licenses in more than a dozen states for “durable medical equipment distribution, medical gas distribution, or both,” according to multiple news reports. “I don't like things such as oxygen being offered...
In brief: Coloplast buys another provider, Medline triples footprint
December 29, 2017HME News Staff
MINNEAPOLIS - Coloplast, which has its U.S. headquarters here but is based in Denmark, announced this month that it has acquired SAS Lilial for a cash consideration of EUR 35.5m or DKK 264m.Lilial is a privately owned French company that distributes catheter and ostomy supplies nationally. It provides patients with products from several different manufacturers, including Coloplast.“The acquisition of SAS Lilial is part of our strategy of pursuing inorganic opportunities to accelerate...
Consider us 'woke'
December 29, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
One of the many tasks the editors at HME News field is drumming up a newspoll each month. Sometimes the questions are better than others, and sometimes what seemed like a great question, on second read, after the poll already goes out, seem obvious.
This month's topic, Amazon, definitely generated lots of comments on the impact of the Amazon effect.
“Amazon's suicide pricing will (if unchecked) destroy our industry exactly like they destroyed the retail industry.”
For this, and other...
Machine learning: Match patient with provider
December 29, 2017Steve Wogen
A. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have been integrated in our daily lives from social media interactions, retail shopping and now healthcare. Unlike the retail industry, where ads are triggered based on a web user's interest, the healthcare industry uses predictive analysis to learn more about patients and improve their health outcomes, which in turn can lead to cost savings. Machine learning platforms help identify potential issues or gaps in care. By doing this, we can...
Home mods providers now have nat'l org
December 29, 2017Liz Beaulieu, Editor
DULUTH, Minn. - In another nod that it's a specialized but growing market, the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services has opened up its Home Modification Accessibility Committee to providers nationwide.
At press time, the committee had 14 members, including new members from Arizona, Mississippi and California, according to Rose Schafhauser, executive director of MAMES.
“It's a great opportunity to network in such a specific area,” she said, “which is extremely...
Q&A: Peter Kopp
December 29, 2017Liz Beaulieu, Editor
DENVER - The Kids Mobility Network hit $5 million in donated wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility equipment in November. Here's what Peter Kopp, who founded the nonprofit with his wife Christy, had to say about the difficulties of doing good.HME News: You first started accepting donated equipment in 2005, with the goal of refurbishing it and getting it back in the hands of children with disabilities. What's surprised you on this journey? Peter Kopp: The demand is so much greater than we...