Archive: May 2017
Short takes: D.W. McMillan, BOC, Insulet
May 31, 2017HME News Staff
D.W. McMillan Home Medical Equipmenthas a new location at 1108 Douglas Avenue in Brewton, Ala., right beside Regions Bank. “Our goal is to help people keep life on track and being more visible in our new location will hopefully help,” Larry Rambach, manager, told the Brewton Standard. D.W. McMillan is a full-service HME provider…Claudia Zacharias, president and CEO of the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC), has been recognized as a top 50 women-led business leader by the Commonwealth...
Mediware broadens reach in alternate care market
May 31, 2017HME News Staff
LENEXA, Kan. - Mediware Information Systems has finalized an agreement to buy Kinnser Software, a provider of software solutions to 4,000 home health, hospice and private duty home care professionals, the company announced May 30.
The acquisition allows Mediware to expand its portfolio in the home health and hospice space, creating an integrated, high-growth software provider for the alternate care market, according to a press release.
“Kinnser's intuitive platform provides Mediware...
Bill tries to force CMS's hand on O&P certification
May 30, 2017HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., and Mike Thompson, D-Calif., have once again introduced a bill that calls on CMS to enforce a law that O&P providers be certified to receive payments under Medicare.Thompson and Thompson introduced H.R. 2599, the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Improvement Act of 2017, last week. They have introduced similar bills in previous sessions of Congress.“Medicare beneficiaries in need of prosthetic and orthotic services deserve to know...
Philips buys maker of respiratory vest
May 30, 2017HME News Staff
AMSTERDAM - Royal Philips has signed an agreement to acquire Respiratory Technologies, the maker of an airway clearance solution for patients with chronic respiratory conditions, like COPD and cystic fibrosis. Philips says the expansion of its respiratory care portfolio with RespirTech's vest will further strengthen its solutions to manage care in the hospital and at home. “As healthcare continues to transform to a value-based care model, Philips is strengthening its respiratory care portfolio...
AAH's Ryan: 'We are so close'
May 26, 2017Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - The timing of AAHomecare's Washington Legislative Conference couldn't have been better, Tom Ryan told attendees on Wednesday, the day before their Capitol Hill meetings.The day before, on Tuesday, a “Dear Colleague” letter began circulating on the Hill appealing to Tom Price, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Seema Verma, CMS administrator, to intervene and provide relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program.“There's no score or procedure...
SBA, CMS to attend Heartland session
May 26, 2017HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - Representatives from CMS and the Small Business Administration will participate in panel discussion at the VGM Heartland Conference in June. The discussion will focus on the future of the competitive bidding program, and provide an opportunity for audience members to ask questions and share feedback on the impacts to their businesses, according to a press release. “Providing platforms to share (provider) concerns and connecting VGM members with resources to navigate the regulatory...
Persante spreads its expertise
May 26, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. - Persante Health Care has joined the American Public Transportation Association to expand its sleep testing and therapy services into the transportation industry, one of a number of moves aimed at growing the provider's presence in this growing market.Joseph LaPorta, CEO, points to costs that run into the billions each year associated with workplace accidents as a driving force in the growth potential of this market.“Within transportation and in the workplace, there are...
Senate committee prioritizes audit, appeals reform
May 26, 2017Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - Forcing Medicare to better coordinate audits and improve the appeals process is one of the top priorities of the Senate Finance Committee this year, Kimberly Brandt told attendees at the AAHomecare Washington Legislative Conference on Wednesday.
The committee plans to conduct a hearing for its AFIRM Act this summer, setting the stage for the bill to be re-introduced later this year, said Brandt, chief healthcare investigative counsel for the committee.
“We hope to come out...
In brief: Small Business Committee goes to bat for HME, CareCentrix partners with Performant
May 26, 2017HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The House Small Business Committee is asking Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price for relief for HME providers.Committee member Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., is circulating a letter addressed to both Price and CMS Administrator Seema Verma, expressing concern with a 38% reduction in the number of HME suppliers since July 1, 2013.The letter seeks: additional resources to speed up fee schedule adjustments required by the 21st Century Cures Act; a delay in cuts that went back...
Tactile Systems launches system to treat head and neck lymphedema
May 26, 2017HME News Staff
MINNEAPOLIS - Tactile Systems Technology has launched Flexitouch, a pneumatic compression system to treat head and neck lymphedema at home. In a completed limited market release with more than 80 patients, 88% saw a reduction in head and neck swelling after an initial 32-minute session, according to a press release. “We are thrilled with these positive results demonstrating that the Flexitouch system can help head and neck lymphedema patients effectively reduce lymphedema swelling and improve...