Archive: July 2018
Study details increased Part A costs due to bid program
July 31, 2018HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - The VGM Group has added a study that shows the cost shift that is happening as a result of reduced access to DME for Medicare beneficiaries to its lobbying toolbox.
The VGM-sponsored study by Leitten Consulting shows that:
Fall-related injuries due to failure to provide needed mobility equipment results in a cost shift of between $4,705 and $5,029;
COPD-related exacerbations due to failure to provide supplemental oxygen therapy results in a cost shift of about $14,350;...
Bill targets MCO-related cuts to DME
July 31, 2018Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A bill has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly that would help to address concerns surrounding 10% to 50% cuts to medical supply companies by certain managed care organizations, according to the Herald & Review. House Bill 5930, co-sponsored by Reps. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, and Gregory Harris, D-Chicago, would prohibit medical supply companies from being paid less than 10% below Medicaid “fee for service” rates by MCOs, the newspaper reported....
Invacare rebrands Top End
July 31, 2018HME News Staff
ELYRIA, Ohio - Invacare is refreshing its Top End wheelchair brand with a new logo and a new website set to launch in the third quarter. The new “t-racer” logo provides a visual representation of the brand: cutting edge, sleek and performance focused, Invacare stated in a press release. “The decision to rebrand Top End is about more than just changing the logo,” said Jonathan Miller, senior director, mobility and seating, at Invacare. “It's about promoting the incredible...
CU hits milestone
July 31, 2018HME News Staff
BILLINGS, Mont. - Computers Unlimited, developers of TIMS Software, celebrates 40 years in business this year. The company was co-founded in 1978 by Dr. Mike Schraer and is now run by President David Schraer. It has three different software application divisions for three different industries: medical, industrial and audiology. CU got its start by servicing local industrial gas and welding companies, expanded its services to HME companies in the 1980s and to speech, language and pathology companies...
Online learning: Observe, reflect, make
July 30, 2018Brie Cohen Vlach
A. Have you ever sat through a tedious online course that was full of text-filled PowerPoint slides, with a person reading word for word what's on the slide? How much of that content do you remember?At Pediatric Home Service, we work hard to create engaging education. Here are some of our best practices to keep nurses and families engaged.Online clinical educationOur online courses have a lab component. The lab is completely hands-on because all of the pre-work is done online. To keep learners engaged...
Patient collections: Train, then communicate
July 30, 2018Jennifer Leon
A. Once you've decided to implement a 'card on file' payment method, and you've begun changing internal processes, the next step should be to communicate this policy—the key in developing a successful automatic payment program.Below are three ways to ensure successful communication:Conduct proper training internally Once you develop an internal policy, you must first communicate that policy company-wide. Designate the key staff members, and utilize them to lead the rest of the team. Develop...
Software companies debut fresh looks
July 30, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor
Universal Software Solutions and Team DME! are two other software companies refreshing their look. Here's why.'Shiny and new'Davison, Mich.-based Universal Software Solutions has been so busy developing products that its look has become “outdated and dull,” acknowledges Lisa Anderson, who works in education and outreach for the company.“Over the years, we just really wanted to deliver the best products we could—we didn't care if our logo was the most modern looking,”...
Prometheus Group turns Prochant
July 30, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor
RALEIGH, N.C. - It's a bold move to change the name of a company that has been in the HME industry for about 20 years, but that's just what The Prometheus Group, now Prochant, has done.Prochant, a provider of revenue cycle management services, debuted recently with a new logo, graphics, website and messaging.“This company has grown organically over the years through referrals and word of mouth, but as we looked to grow through more traditional marketing channels, it was time to change our name,...
Efficiency at heart of connected care
July 30, 2018John Andrews
Keeping a tight lid on expenses is paramount for HME providers to keep their finances healthy, and technology can serve as an effective tool for reaching that goal, technology specialists say.Specifically, using connected care platforms for managing remote patient monitoring can help providers save time, effort and overhead costs while elevating clinical care quality. It also improves HME companies' competitive positioning in the marketplace, said Nick Knowlton, vice president of strategic initiatives...
'It's as much design as anything'
July 30, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor
BILLINGS, Mont. - While some HME companies look to home modifications as a good “offshoot” business, Robin Campbell launched Accessible Home Solutions from the ground up about a year ago.
“We just thought there was an opportunity in our area, with it being a newer industry and with the builders not focused on it,” said Robin Campbell, who has worked as a consultant in the HME industry in the past.
Because many HME companies already have storefronts and referral bases,...