Executive Session
How the Cleveland Clinic won a competitive bidding contract
January 14, 2011Mike Moran
Here's an interesting competitive bidding story:
I got a call yesterday from a provider who was upset that Cleveland Clinic Respiratory Therapy at Home, which initially did not win a Round 1 rebid in the Cleveland CBA, was belatedly awarded a bid by CMS. In a letter to staff dated Dec. 20, the company stated: "Great News! At noon today, we received word from CMS that we were unjustly denied a winning status and were granted as bid winners for Oxygen and Enteral. Simply put, we can continue to accept...
When it comes to competitive bidding, now is not the time to go wobbly
January 11, 2011Mike Moran
The other day in this blog, I asked the following question: "Can the industry have it both ways? Can it embrace the economists when they say the current program is greatly flawed, but give them the cold shoulder when they propose what, in their opinion, is a workable alternative?"
The answer, according to John Shirvinsky, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers (PAMS), is "Yes."
After reading the email that John sent to me yesterday, I'm inclined to agree.
Mike...
What should the industry do: Push to repeal competitive bidding, or work to reform it?
January 7, 2011Mike Moran
There's a lot of outrage these days about competitive bidding, about how messed up the program is and how bad it is for providers and beneficiaries. Despite these complaints and the industry's continuing efforts to repeal the program, not everyone believes those efforts are the wisest use of time and resources. I received an email recently from one such person, and I've included it below.
This person believes that competitive bidding is here to stay. The best course of action, he says, is to stop...
When it comes to seniors, practice tough love
January 6, 2011Mike Moran
I've talked to a lot of people this week about various HME issues, and here's the quote I like the best, mostly because it addresses one of my pet peeves:
"We've been trying to get the industry to stop thinking that when someone turns 65 they don't have any money. We need providers to ask them to pay for some things. But also lets not assume that once they turn 65 that they also become idiots."
I'll keep this person anonymous because this was part of an aside conversation we digressed into. But I've...
Everyone is talking about competitive bidding, but not me.
December 30, 2010Mike Moran
Everywhere I turned this week, people were talking about competitive bidding, but you won't hear a peep out of me. Not today.
A provider sent me an email a few days ago that included the following paragraph about competitive bidding:
"Despite years of effort by the industry to derail competitive bidding, the flawed program has been implemented in the first nine markets. And implementation of the program will begin in an additional 91 markets in the next six months. Some in the HME industry...
My adventure with an Internet scam artist
December 17, 2010Mike Moran
When I arrived at work this morning, I found this email awaiting me in my in-box:
Hi
Apologies for having to reach out to you like this, but I made a quick trip to London,United Kingdom and had my bag stolen from me with my passport and credit cards in it. The embassy is willing to help by letting me fly without my passport, I just have to pay for a ticket and settle Hotel bills. Unfortunately for me, I can't have access to funds without my credit card, I've made...
I hope this isn't my 15 minutes of fame
December 6, 2010Mike Moran
It can be a hard, cruel world out there, especially if you are old, overweight or, sometimes, a guy named Moran.
I got a call last week from Mike Kruse, a reporter with the St. Petersburg Times. Turns out a man on a moped crashed into a man driving a power wheelchair. Kruse had all kinds of questions for me: How big is the scooter market? How big is the power chair market? And on and on. I kind of enjoyed it. Usually, I'm the one asking questions so to have the tables turned was fun.
Here's what...
Is your HME company one of the industry's best and brightest? Now's the time to find out
December 1, 2010Mike Moran
It's that time of year again: Time to apply for an HME Excellence Award.
If you have never applied for an HME Excellence Award, you should do so this year. In the competitive HME market (a market that is getting more and more competitive), a company needs every advantage. You need to outshine the competition--you need to differentiate your company--and an HME Excellence Award will help you do that. This award provides third-party validation that your company is doing it right.
If you have an HME...
These seniors give the Greatest Generation a bad name
November 24, 2010Mike Moran
It's the day before Thanksgiving so I don't want to tee off on anyone—at least not excessively. But really, what's up with some seniors out there? They are giving the "Greatest Generation" a bad name.
I say this after reading through a recent HME News Poll. According to this poll, an overwhelming majority of providers—92%—report that their customers are having more trouble paying out of pocket this year than last year. That makes sense. Most seniors are on fixed incomes and with...
Mixon steps down as Invacare CEO
November 22, 2010Mike Moran
After Mal Mixon suffered a mild stroke last spring, many in the HME industry wondered if he'd ever return as Invacare's CEO. During a conference call last month to discuss the company's latest financial results, Invacare officials said Mixon would decide his future role with the company by year's end. This morning, the company issued a release, stating that Gerald Blouch, who has served as interim CEO during Mixon's recovery, has been permanently promoted to CEO. Mixon will continue in his role as...