Archive: February 2017
Medforce launches e-signature tool
February 28, 2017HME News Staff
SUFFERN, N.Y. - Medforce Technologies has launched an electronic signature tool built specifically for the healthcare industry. SignCenter allows providers to “dictate the signing experience,” Medforce says, by determining where and when a document can be signed. It allows signatures to be captured remotely or in-person, and to be executed using a keyboard, mouse or touch screen from any web-enabled device. “Most providers we talk to are still printing out forms for signature and...
Hospice Cloud bulks up business with Genesis Healthcare
February 28, 2017HME News Staff
ATLANTA and RICHLAND HILLS, Texas - Genesis Healthcare Services and Hospice Cloud, two providers of HME to hospice organizations, have merged, company officials announced Feb. 23.
The acquisition of Atlanta-based Genesis Healthcare helps Richland Hills, Texas-based Hospice Cloud, which owns and operates 60 service centers and has partnerships with more than 200 HME providers, maintain its position as a “market leader” providing HME for the hospice industry.
“The addition of...
VirtuOx keeps track with VirtuTrack
February 28, 2017HME News Staff
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - VirtuOx, a home respiratory diagnostic provider, has released a device that allows HME providers to track their equipment in the patient's home. VirtuTrack attaches to equipment and automatically sends data daily to VirtuOx, allowing providers to monitor whether or not it is plugged in and turned on. “With VirtuTrack, you will be able to monitor patient compliance to any medical device, which can improve health outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions and eliminate the...
Better to swim with the sharks
February 28, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
It's a chilly today, here in Las Vegas, but here's hoping things warm up with the official start of Medtrade Spring '17 this morning.
I actually flew into Vegas on Saturday. I figured if I had to spend a whole day crammed onto a plane, anyway, I might as well take an extra today to enjoy some sun and relative warmth—two things that are often in limited supply in our neck of the woods.
On Sunday morning, before all the vacationing families could descend on the Shark Reef Aquarium (it's just...
Senators in Minnesota seek to soften blow of upcoming Medicaid cut
February 28, 2017HME News Staff
SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Two senators in the Minnesota state legislature have introduced a bill to address a provision in the 21st Century Cures Act that would limit the federal portion of Medicaid reimbursement for HME to competitive bidding-influenced Medicare reimbursement starting in 2018. The bill, introduced by Sens. Jim Abeler and Greg Clausen and still in draft form, reads: “Effective for services provided on or after January 1, 2018, the commissioner shall make supplemental payments to...
Brightree helps providers get paid
February 28, 2017HME News Staff
ATLANTA - Brightree has released an app that gives HME providers a quick way to process patient payments through smartphones or tablets anywhere in real time. The Brightree Patient Collections GetPaidHME app, which runs on Apple and Android devices, allows users to scan a sales order directly from a delivery ticket. From there, the patient is added to the delivery queue, and sales order data, including recipient and payment information, is integrated into the app, eliminating the need for paper invoices....
Infusion providers take Medicare patients 'case by case'
February 24, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine - One of the leading providers of home infusion therapy has stopped taking new Medicare patients and others are likely to follow suit if a “payment gap” is not closed.“We are not able to take these patients that are directly impacted on our service and provide them the level of care that we deliver for the level of reimbursement that we make,” said Paul Mastrapa, CEO of Option Care, which is still caring for its active patients. “We are working with patients...
Is bariatric DME becoming the new normal?
February 24, 2017John Andrews
There is no consensus among manufacturers about whether bariatrics should continue to be its own category or whether it should be incorporated into other HME segments. While some are including bariatric versions of mobility, bath safety, support surfaces and aids to daily living within those product portfolios, others continue to position bariatric models in their own category.
Whether bariatrics becomes more mainstream remains to be seen, though it appears that sales of bariatric versions are...
CareCentrix requires repeat authorizations for oxygen
February 24, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
HARTFORD, Conn. - A recently announced change to CareCentrix's authorization process for oxygen patients covered under a Medicare Advantage plan has stakeholders scratching their heads.The change, issued earlier this month, states that an initial request for oxygen will be approved for only one month, with subsequent months requiring additional authorization.“I'm trying to get to see why they are doing what they are doing and talk them out of it," said Laura Williard, senior director of payer...
New RAC posts new reviews
February 24, 2017HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Performant Recovery, the new national recovery audit contractor (RAC) for DMEPOS and home health/hospice, has posted seven new reviews on its workload page, according to AAHomecare. They are: complex medical necessity chest wall oscillation devices; complex medical necessity tracheotomy suction catheters, suction pumps, catheters and other related supplies and equipment; automated nebulizers not in accordance with billing requirements; automated DME billed while inpatient; complex review...