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Archive: August 2018


Vendors

Philips to drop UltraFill

August 31, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor

MURRYSVILLE, Pa. - Philips plans to discontinue its UltraFill Home Oxygen System, in another nod by the company to portable oxygen concentrators as the preferred form of therapy.Philips has confirmed that it will stop selling the system, which includes a stationary oxygen concentrator, a filling station and high-capacity 3,000 PSI cylinders, by the end of this year.“With the evolution of the oxygen marketplace, customer demand has shifted to portable oxygen concentrators as the primary choice...

Home Oxygen Equipment, Philips, UltraFill


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Providers

IVS ready to promote VOCSN

August 31, 2018Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor

NORWOOD, Mass. - The people behind the new company Integrated Vent Solutions say multi-function ventilator technology is a game changer.IVS will serve as the exclusive distributor of the VOCSN, a portable device that combines a ventilator, oxygen concentrator, cough assist, suction and nebulizer into one unified system,in New England.“The VOCSN is probably the most exciting development in the ventilator space in 20 years,” said Eric Mongeau, managing director of IVS.The VOCSN, manufactured...

Integrated Vent Solutions, Multi-function ventilator, Reliable Respiratory, VOCSN


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Mobility

Fellow fighters wanted

August 31, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor

NEW YORK - Gerry Dickerson has held nearly every other position on the NRRTS executive committee, but this month, he was finally named president-elect. Here's what Dickerson, an ATP and CRTS who works for National Seating & Mobility, had to say about the challenges and opportunities in the complex rehab industry. HME News: The story goes you've had a hand in complex rehab since you were a teenager. At 13, you were constantly tinkering with an uncle's Colson wheelchair, at one point...

Complex Rehab, Gerry Dickerson, National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (NRRTS)


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Providers

Aeroflow expands to Northeast

August 31, 2018Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Aeroflow Healthcare has added Connecticut to its footprint, with its recent acquisition of the CPAP and resupply business of Med-Caire in Vernon. Aeroflow will now serve resupply patients in that state, as well as the Carolinas. “We are very attracted to Connecticut's higher reimbursement rates,” said Andrew Amoth, corporate development manager. “There's a healthy mix of strong reimbursements from all payers in the state compared to other states....

Aeroflow, CPAP, Med-Caire, Resupply


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News

In brief: GAO reports on bid program, Lifeway Mobility receives investment

August 31, 2018HME News Staff

WASHINGTON - The average reduction in payment rates in non-competitive bidding areas for five DME items with the highest expenditures in 2016 was 46%, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. In its review of the effects of reduced payment rates in non-bid areas, the GAO also found that: the number of suppliers furnishing rate-adjusted items in non-bid areas in 2016 decreased 8% compared to 2015; and beneficiary utilization of rate-adjusted items in non-bid areas...

Bonafide Medical Group, Bridge Connector, Inogen, Lifeway Mobility, MK Battery, Sunrise Medical


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Also Noted

Short takes: MK Battery, ResMed, Invacare

August 30, 2018HME News Staff

In conjunction with NRRTS, MK Battery has received approval for a 0.1 CEU course titled “Battery Technologies.” The one-hour course provides in-depth instruction on the proper selection, installation, care and maintenance of batteries used in power mobility equipment, and is geared toward technicians, ATPs and others who cater to the HME/mobility market. To schedule a course: sales@mkbattery.com…ResMed has upgraded its Astral life support ventilators to include optional AutoEPAP in...

Invacare, MK Battery, ResMed


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Also Noted

Bonafide launches 'Amazon-style' shopping portal

August 30, 2018HME News Staff

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Bonafide Management Systems has launched its Facility Portal, an online shopping portal to allow HME providers to sell to healthcare facilities. The portal is directly linked to back-office billing operations, inventory and delivery systems, according to a press release. The “Amazon-style” shopping experience allows healthcare facility nurses to create patient profiles, place rental and sale orders, suggest patient-specific items based on a clinical algorithm,...

Bonafide Medical Group, Online shopping, Software


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Mobility

Lifeway Mobility targets growth through investment

August 30, 2018HME News Staff

HARTFORD, Conn. - Lifeway Mobility, an accessibility solutions company started by former Numotion CEO Paul Bergantino, has received a “major investment” from Cleveland-based Rockwood Equity Partners. As part of the transaction, Rockwood will provide additional capital and resources to enable Lifeway Mobility to accelerate its plans to become the leading provider of accessibility and safety solutions for people with mobility challenges and those wishing to age in place, according to...

Accessibility, Investment, Lifeway Mobility, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Private Equity


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Smart Talk

Online learning: Make it top-notch

August 29, 2018Brie Cohen Vlach

A. The foundation of Pediatric Home Service is education. We spend money to ensure we have high quality education.Online EducationTurning our classroom education into an online experience has been costly, but we've seen huge benefits from the investment. Our staff can take our online education anytime, anywhere. There is no time delay and an employee can do it all on their own. Our clinicians can take a course or refresh themselves immediately, instead of waiting for a classroom session. And with...

Brie Cohen Vlach, Online learning, Pediatric Home Service


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Medtrade Show Daily

Speaker spotlight: What retail is, and isn't

August 29, 2018Jeff Rowe

ATLANTA - More HME providers are incorporating cash sales into their revenue streams. But at Medtrade in Atlanta, in “How to Drive Two Trains at Once,” Michael Scarsella, national sales director for Compass Health Brands, will step it up a notch and explorethe complexity of a blended cash sales and third-party pay business model. HME News: When it comes to cash sales in the HME industry, is it better to be 100% cash or some percentage of cash and third-party payers? Michael Scarsella:It...

2018, Compass Health Brands, Medtrade, Mike Scarsella, retail sales


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