Archive: January 2007
Market impact of new drug unknown
January 31, 2007HME News Staff
MARLBOROUGH, Mass. - One wild card for the neb-med market this year is Brovana, Sepracor's long-acting inhalant, which received FDA approval in October and is slated to launch April 1.
"We haven't had a new drug introduced since we went to the average sales price model," said Mickey Letson, president of Decatur, Ala.-based Letco. "It's unknown how that's going to be handled."
The drug is designed as a twice-a-day treatment, and it is expected to improve compliance rates. It has received favorable...
Takin' care of business
January 31, 2007HME News Staff
PHOENIX - Arizona Mobility Products watched about 100 wheelchair-accessible minivans and full-sized conversion vans drive off its lot in 2006, more than twice the number in 2005.
President Mark Roberts chalks up AMP's successful year to the baby boomer generation's desire to "keep moving" and the company's ability to treat people with respect.
"In the auto industry, everyone's worried about giving customers prices and then the customers going elsewhere, and it becomes a Chinese auction," he said....
'We're still in a good industry'
January 31, 2007HME News Staff
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. -- Rumors in the HME industry spread like wildfire. Just ask Drive Medical's CEO Harvey Diamond, who listens to the rumors but takes them with a grain of salt. For several months now, he's heard the rumor that Drive's in financial trouble. "I kind of chuckle," Diamond said in early January. "If Drive was in bad shape we wouldn't be doing acquisitions. Anyone in financial trouble doesn't announce acquisitions." Indeed, the company acquired Lifestyle Mobility Aids early last fall,...
A bunch of rotten fruit
January 31, 2007HME News Staff
Over the last six years, the Bush Administration and its allies have made a habit of using faulty information and shady tactics to push through their legislative and policy priorities. The HME industry experienced this firsthand when Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif., in the dead of night, slipped an 18-month cap on oxygen reimbursement into the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Fortunately, industry leaders, led by Invacare and Apria, while not able to eliminate the cap, increased it to a manageable 36 months....
UPitt hosts review course for ATPs
January 31, 2007HME News Staff
DENVER - The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology will offer review courses for rehab professionals who plan to take the ATP or ATS exam. The first review will take place Feb. 24 in Denver. Other dates and locations will be planned. For more information and to register, go to www.rstce.pitt.edu and click on courses.
Lymphedema group throws in the towel
January 31, 2007HME News Staff
LAS VEGAS - The Coalition for Quality Healthcare disbanded in December, said founder Cyndi Ortiz. The political action committee was formed to press for Medicare and other insurance coverage of compression therapy in the treatment of lymphedema and other vascular diseases. In her announcement, Ortiz cited frustration with the political process she has experienced during the coalition's three-year existence. (See HME News October 2006). "We do have many awesome people in office who represent the needs...
Eliminate it from LCD, NCART asks Medicaid
January 31, 2007HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Power mobility pricing wasn't the only issue that NCART wanted state Medicaid directors to look at twice before adopting. In a late-December letter, the organization also asked directors to leave out references to the in-the-home restriction from their coverage policies.
While Medicare restricts coverage to equipment that's needed for use in the home only, Medicaid doesn't have to, thanks to the Olmstead decision, the letter states. The 1999 U.S. Supreme Court decision requires states...
FDA OKs Viasys spirometry device
January 31, 2007HME News Staff
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given Viasys Respiratory permission to market its PulmoLife spirometry screener. PulmoLife uses spirometry to measure lung function. According to the National Institutes of Health, "Spirometry is the most sensitive and commonly used test of lung functions. It can detect COPD long before you have significant symptoms." Early detection of decreased lung function by the PulmoLife device may help a smoker realize the damage smoking can cause...
Buyout firm acquires second oxygen provider
January 31, 2007HME News Staff
CLEVELAND - The Riverside Co. acquired Phoenix Medical Resources, a company that rents respiratory equipment to nursing homes, it announced Dec. 21. Earlier in 2006, Riverside, a leveraged buyout firm, acquired and restructured RCS Management, which also rents respiratory equipment to nursing homes. "RCS has continued to perform well and adding a successful company like Phoenix Medical makes it an even stronger enterprise with greater geographic reach and additional customers," said Loren Schlachet,...
Accreditation wrap-up
January 31, 2007HME News Staff
Despite a tough year for the home oxygen therapy and power mobility benefits, things are good at Auburn, Mass.-based New England Medical Homecare. The full-line HME provider, in its 21st year, has been accredited for the first time by ACHC.
"We held off for a little bit, because we weren't sure where Medicare was going to go with it," said President Steven Callan. "But we wanted to get it done before the big rush."
To participate in national competitive bidding, due to kick off some time this year,...