Archive: September 2006
Americans still packing on pounds
September 30, 2006HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Adult obesity rates continued to rise in 31 states over the past year, and Mississippi claimed the dubious distinction as heaviest state with an adult obesity rate of 30.9%, according to a report from Trust for America's Health.
Louisiana and West Virginia followed Mississippi in obesity rates, and the South was found to be the heaviest region, claiming nine of the 10 heaviest states. Colorado weighed in as the lightest state, with an adult obesity rate of 17.8%.
Obesity rates remained...
NRRTS taps Walker as next president
September 30, 2006HME News Staff
LAGO VISTA, Texas - NRRTS registrants named Weesie Walker of National Seating & Mobility as its next president during a recent election. Walker, a CRTS, will assume the position in August 2007, replacing current President Mike Seidel, also of National Seating & Mobility.
During the election, NRRTS registrants also named Mike Osborn secretary, Gerald Dickerson treasurer, Michele Gunn review chair for DMERC A and Elaine Stewart review chair for DMERC D. Additionally, they named Jack Craigs and John...
In Home Products acquires MRT
September 30, 2006HME News Staff
DALLAS - In Home Products, the fourth largest provider of urology supplies in the United States, acquired MRT in mid-July. The Dallas-based MRT is a provider of DME and urology supplies. In Home has targeted companies that are struggling or fear a DME world that revolves around national competitive bidding, company officials have said. "We come in and pick them up," said Larry Rice, COO. "They have a good core of clients, and we show them (In Home) is a stable company. Then they regain confidence...
Two Providence branches go bust
September 30, 2006HME News Staff
PORTLAND, Ore. - HME provider Providence Home Services plans to close two branches in Lacey and Olympia, Wash., this year, resulting in 27 layoffs. Providence, a division of the Portland, Ore.-based Providence Health Systems, is closing the branches because they're losing money, a company spokesman told a local newspaper in August. Providence has offered the laid-off employees a 60- to 90-day transition period and severance packages. Kirk Westenfelder, president of Olympia, Wash.-based Kirk's Medical...
Provider, lawmakers work for lymphedema coverage
September 30, 2006HME News Staff
LAS VEGAS - It's back to the drawing board for one provider's quest to gain better coverage of lymphedema treatment and supplies.
Cyndi Ortiz, owner of Nevada Vascular and Lymphatic Specialty Co. and founder of the Coalition for Quality Healthcare--a political action committee--is focusing her efforts on effecting change administratively after a bill fell through earlier this year. She is currently working with Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D.-Nev.
"Senator Reid's...
U.S. Army drafts SeQual's POC
September 30, 2006HME News Staff
SAN DIEGO - August proved to be a big month for SeQual Technologies.
On the 14th, the company announced the commercial launch of its 17-pound portable concentrator, the Eclipse Oxygen System. Two weeks later, on the 28th, the U.S. Army awarded SeQual a $5 million contract to develop the next generation of the Eclipse to be used wherever the military needs it, including combat zones.
The contract is an extension of an initial Army deal awarded in 2004. That investment helped SeQual develop the Eclipse....
CPAP provider charged with federal mail fraud
September 30, 2006HME News Staff
SANTA ANA, Calif. - A woman faces federal mail fraud charges for allegedly selling inferior DME to sleep patients. Patricia Ann Wyatt-Chafe, owner of La Palma, Calif.-based Phoenix CPAP Services, was charged Aug. 23 with five counts of mail fraud. Wyatt-Chafe allegedly sold previously used items such as CPAPs, masks, hoses and filters, and billed Medicare and some private payers for new items. She is also accused of selling inferior and inexpensive disposable equipment that she claimed was reusable....
State may change bidding proposal
September 30, 2006HME News Staff
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania providers, advocates and beneficiaries turned out in droves at a recent series of statewide town meetings hosted by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) to voice concerns on a proposal to competitively bid DME.
As a result, state Medicaid officials announced its selective contracting RFP would be delayed at least two weeks, until mid-September.
Dave Fiorini, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (PAMS), hailed the public...
Accreditors get answers
September 30, 2006HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Representatives from eight accrediting organizations were on the line with CMS officials for nearly two hours in early September to discuss their concerns with the agency's final quality standards.
Although CMS asked the accrediting organizations not to release information from the teleconference, organizations like ACHC described it as "a positive experience."
"We learned a lot, and we're feeling better about it," said Tom Cesar, president of the Raleigh, N.C.-based ACHC.
ACHC organized...
Arcadia expands
September 30, 2006HME News Staff
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - Arcadia Resources acquired Lovell Medical Supply with locations in Mount Airy, North Wilkesboro and Statesville, N.C., and Alliance Oxygen and Medical Equipment with locations in Naples, Sarasota and Englewood, Fla. Terms of the deals were not disclosed, but Lovell and Alliance generate about $3 million and $5.4 million in annual sales, respectively. Both acquisitions help Arcadia "capitalize on the $5 billion home respiratory equipment market," say company officials.