Archive: May 2018
ADA: Improve insulin access, affordability
May 31, 2018HME News Staff
ARLINGTON, Va. - The American Diabetes Association on May 24 released a public policy statement outlining both long- and short-term recommendations for improving insulin access and affordability. The recommendations in “ADA Public Policy Statement: Insulin Access and Affordability” include increasing transparency across the entire insulin supply chain; streamlining the approval process for biosimilar insulins; lowering or removing patient cost-sharing for insulin; and increasing...
Option Care nurses receive infusion certification
May 31, 2018HME News Staff
BANNOCKBURN, Ill. - Option Care, a provider of home and alternate treatment site infusion therapy services, recognizes 19 of its nurses for passing the Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI) examination this spring. The bi-annual exam, facilitated through the Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation, is the only accredited and nationally recognized certification for infusion nursing. Option Care says its newly certified clinicians make up nearly 20% of the total number of clinicians to receive...
Growth was off for F&P Healthcare's masks
May 31, 2018HME News Staff
IRVINE, Calif. - Fisher & Paykel Healthcare reported operating revenue grew 10% to a record NZD 980.8 million, or 9% in constant currency terms, for fiscal year 2018. Split up, that's 13% constant currency growth in the company's hospital product group and 4% growth in its homecare product group. F&P reported that its operating profit grew 12% to NZD 269.8 million and its net profit after tax few 12% to NZD 190.2 million in FY 2018 vs. 2017. In the homecare product group, OSA mask constant currency...
Big difference between CBO, HHS estimates
May 30, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Two government agencies have widely differing estimates on a proposal to expand and reform Medicare's competitive bidding program, according to Inside Health Policy.The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the proposal, included in the president's fiscal 2019 budget, would cost $1.3 billion over 10 years; The Department of Health and Human Services says it would save $6.5 billion over the same time period, according to the D.C. news service.Under the proposal, CMS would expand...
Keene Medical sticks with Medicaid
May 30, 2018HME News Staff
MONTPELIER, Vt. - Keene Medical Products will remain an in-network provider with The Department Vermont Health Access, which oversees the state's Medicaid program, according to an article in Vermont Business Magazine. The provider in April had said it would withdraw effective June 1 in response to changes in Medicaid reimbursement rates. DVHA has been in communication with HOMES to address concerns and continues to make adjustments to the new fee schedule. Keene Medical and DVHA will collaborate...
VGM, HME News join forces on benchmarking survey
May 30, 2018Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WATERLOO, Iowa - The VGM Group and HME News have partnered to administer one HME Financial Benchmarking Survey, rather than two separate surveys. The two entities say the move will mean an increase in responses and more consistent data. “We're excited to work with our friends at VGM on this project,” said Rick Rector, publisher of HME News. “We look forward to increased participation and can't wait to dig into the data and share it with the respondents, as well as HME Business...
CQRC questions OIG findings
May 30, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The Council on Quality Respiratory Care criticized a recent report from the Office of Inspector General, saying it underestimates the negative impact of the competitive bidding program on access for oxygen patients. The CQRC states that the “limitations in the report's methodology signal significant flaws in the OIG's conclusions.” It points out that the OIG, itself, acknowledges that continued Medicare payment “is not a direct measure of continued access to...
Sleep market embraces tech
May 29, 2018John Andrews
Seeking encouraging news among the chronic beleaguerment in the HME market can be a challenge, but one area where providers may find hope is with sleep therapy. As the category matures, awareness of obstructive sleep apnea is growing among the public and in the physician community, where more patients are being prescribed CPAP therapy.VGM Respiratory, a division of Waterloo, Iowa-based VGM Group, has seen the growth firsthand.“Family practice and internal medicine physicians, as well as nurse...
Tampa Medical hops on e-commerce bandwagon
May 29, 2018Tracy Orzel
TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa Medical Supply has launched bracesbandagesandbeyond.com, a new e-commerce website, to meet consumer demand.“We'd get a lot of calls out of the blue: 'Do you have wheelchairs? Do you have this? Do you have that?,'” said Greg Grambor, president of Tampa Medical Supply. “That's how we saw that there was a need out there and this (website) is our response.”Braces, Bandages and Beyond carries an array of products including braces, incontinence, CPAP machines,...
Rosemary's daughter: Diamond Medical gets bigger into retail
May 29, 2018Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Diamond Medical Supply is celebrating its 25th anniversary by moving into a new retail location—two doors down.“Like most companies we are going more toward retail,” said Owner Cindy Bishop. “When I started, people were looking for Medicare and Medicaid to pay for absolutely everything. That mindset has changed.”Diamond Medical Supply was launched in 1993 by Bishop's mother, Rosemary Francisco. While the store still offers hospital beds, oxygen and...