Archive: May 2019
Customer financing: Offer options as advantage
May 31, 2019Tim Donovan
A. In a crowded market like medical equipment, it can be hard to stand out. As customers are faced with more choices, identifying and understanding the target audience for your products is important. Recently we completed a generational health study which shed light into how each generation pays for care. We learned that customers in each generation can struggle to pay out-of-pocket healthcare and equipment costs. When insurance coverage for equipment decreases, customers may be more inclined to...
Respiratory Solutions: Reduce liability, rest easy
May 31, 2019Mike Chorney
A. Firebreaks are incredibly important and inexpensive devices that can save patients' lives and reduce injuries.Crucial componentHousehold fire is an important concern for home oxygen patients. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of fires, but they can also be started by candles, gas stoves or other sources of ignition. The firebreak is a thermal fuse that stops the flow of oxygen during therapy, in the event that the downstream tubing is accidentally ignited. They are fitted to the patient's...
CBD: Consider quality, transparency
May 31, 2019Andrew Amoth
A. HME providers see patients daily that currently use or may benefit from hemp products. These types of suppliers are proving to be a valuable resource to the patients they serve. In an environment containing a wide variety of options, these types of customers rely on their trusted healthcare providers in selecting the solution that best fits their needs. Quality, concentration, and transparency are among the key considerations when selecting a hemp brand with which to align.
Passing of the 2018...
Peacock feathers and lift chair bingo: All in a day's work for HME retailers
May 31, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
From solid bets like selling lift chairs to stocking this season's hottest styles, it's all in a day's work for today's HME retailer providers they say.
During a panel discussion at Medtrade Spring in Las Vegas in April, four HME providers offered their thoughts on how to build a successful retail model.
Give the people what they want
While the traditional HME model has long been to assume the customer can't or won't pay for anything when insurance might, changes...
Reporter's notebook: Cash customer? ABN still gold standard
May 31, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
With more and more providers switching their focus from Medicare to cash sales, it's unsurprising that there's occasional confusion about whether an advance beneficiary notice is needed.
HME News recently received an email from a small DME supplier that has not billed Medicare in four years and recently learned they still needed to complete ABNs for all Medicare beneficiaries.
“We have people come into our business that have Medicare but are choosing to pay out of pocket because...
E-prescribing: Eliminate guessing
May 31, 2019David Gelbard
A. In 2019, consumers have never had more transparency and efficiency when ordering items in their everyday lives. You know when those shoes you ordered on Amazon will be delivered, when the Uber driver will pick you up, and you'll get an alert from Delta if your flight is delayed. But for some reason, a patient isn't given the same basic level of transparency for the equipment they desperately need, in today's healthcare world.Currently, most caregivers still order medical equipment for patients...
Mike Osborn, all in for NRRTS
May 31, 2019Liz Beaulieu, Editor
PITTSBURGH - Mike Osborn, the recipient of this year's Simon Margolis Fellow Award, likes to say, “NRRTS is the best thing that ever happened to me.” Osborn, who co-owns Alliance Rehab and Medical Equipment in Ozark, Mo., with three other ATPs and who serves as the treasurer for NRRTS's executive committee, says the organization's leadership and registrants fuel his work and advocacy. “Once you work with these folks, the passion takes over,” he said. “You want to make...
Q&A: Matt Mellott: Brightree's big picture
May 31, 2019Liz Beaulieu, Editor
ATLANTA - Brightree went into Medtrade Spring in April following a busy end to 2018 and start to 2019. The company, which is owned by ResMed, acquired Apacheta in December and announced its latest integration with Quality Biomedical in January. Here's what CEO Matt Mellott had to say about what's next, including its newest product Advanced Analytics, a platform that highlights workflow insights, and tracks KPIs and peer benchmarking.HME News: Most recently, Brightree integrated with Quality Biomedical...
Revised wheelchair seating standard published
May 31, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) has approved the revision and publication of the ANSI/RESNA WC-3 standard after five years of collaboration across wheelchair seating experts. The newly expanded volume includes improvements and clarifications, as well as new test methods for characterizing seating support surfaces. “Unlike most standards and regulations, these standards are created by the people who need them and use them, including clinicians, engineers, academics,...
ResMed adds exec in South Asia to increase awareness
May 31, 2019HME News Staff
SAN DIEGO - ResMed has appointed Shubhi Khurana as general manager for India and South Asia to create market development and awareness initiatives to educate the public, medical community and decision-makers about the prevalence of sleep and respiratory diseases in the region, as well as how to diagnose and treat them at home with cloud-connectable non-invasive devices. “Sleep apnea and COPD are global health epidemics and are especially prevalent in Asia,” said Justin Leong, president...