Archive: November 2007

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - ResMed boosted its revenue for the quarter that ended Sept. 30 by 14% to $185.7 million compared to the same period last year, the company reported last week. Peter C. Farrell, Ph.D., chairman and CEO, commented, "In the first quarter of fiscal 2008, overall Americas sales increased by 9%, or 11% if sales from our motor division are excluded. Sales outside of the Americas totaled $88.1 million, an encouraging 19% increase over last year. Operating cash flow for the September quarter...

MIAMI - Nearly a month after riling the HME industry with a story that implied rampant fraud and abuse among providers, National Public Radio (NPR) aired another side of the story Nov. 6. Reporter Greg Allen's original story, "Medicare Fraud Acute in South Florida," made it seem as though all DME providers were running Medicare scams. Missing, said industry leaders, was the provider perspective. Enter Raul Lopez, operations manager of Miami Lakes, Fla.-based Bayshore Dura Medical, who invited Allen...

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Robert VanVranken recently completed a 1,500-mile trip from St. Paul, Minn., to New York City--on a Pride Legend power wheelchair, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The 49-year-old VanVranken, known as "The Rolling Dutchman," made the trip to raise awareness and money for veterans issues. VanVranken, who is not a veteran, lost his left leg after a Metro Transit bus hit him last year. During his trip, VanVranken stopped at veterans hospitals, memorials and Veterans of Foreign...

CLEARWATER, Fla., and LAKE FORESET, Calif. - Lincare reported revenues of $408.2 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2007, a 14% increase compared to the same quarter in 2006. Net income was $58.6 million this year compared to $56.2 million last year over the same period. Apria Healthcare reported revenues of $396.1 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2007, a 3.6% increase compared to the same quarter in 2006. Net income was $21.3 million this year compared to $19.3 million last year over...

At Medtrade in October, industry consultant Vince Crew heard a lot of doom and gloom emanating from the industry, as a whole, but when he talked to individual providers, he found they were like Marty Falk (See story above). "Honest to goodness, individual providers are saying, 'You know, I think we're turning the corner,' or, 'Hey, we've gone through accreditation, and it was a pain in the butt and a huge investment in time and money, but we had to shut up and do it,'" said Crew, president of Reach...

DUBLIN, Ohio - Pharmaceutical wholesale giant Cardinal Health bolstered its HME offering in October when it debuted the Lap Top Ventilator 1150. The unit features controls and alarm settings that are illuminated for easy identification, as well as an intuitive interface that saves time and reduces potential errors, the company stated in a press release. At 14.5 pounds, the lightweight vent is designed to offer homecare patients greater mobility.

ARLINGTON, Va. - If you want to nominate a RESNA board of director, you have until Dec. 1. Visit www.resna.org to download a nomination form. Individuals should nominate candidates based on their past service and contributions to RESNA, and their ability to guide the organization in the future. Nominees must be members or fellows of RESNA in good standing for a period of three years. RESNA will conduct elections via mail-in ballots. New members begin their terms Aug. 1, 2008.

Ice Spiders release Layer Cake The New York Times took it to the HME industry today with a front-page story that started out like this: Golden Opportunities Oxygen Suppliers Fight to Keep a Medicare Boon By CHARLES DUHIGG The Man Without a Face dvd Little Voice trailer To Kill a Mockingbird divx The Shawshank Redemption on dvd Flash Gordon move The Legend Trip Scorched trailer Medicare spends billions of dollars each year on products and services that are available at far lower prices. Duhigg’s...

Although the month of October, otherwise known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, sees women's health providers ramping up promotions and educational outreach, many agree that the overall message of the services they provide gets lost in a sea of pink. "There's so much hype," said Vicki Jones, founder of the Women's Heath Boutique franchise. "The industry has done well at promoting awareness. What we have to do now is offer solutions." "Cause" marketing, in which everything from kitchen appliances...

SAN DIEGO - Fires that scorched nearly half-a-million acres of Southern California stretching from Malibu to the Mexican border in October didn't stop providers from helping their patients. "We are providing equipment to whoever needs it," said Eric Nelson, an intake coordinator for SpecialCare in hardest-hit San Diego. "Our disaster management plan is working very well. Patients have a phone number to call us, and we've called some in the most desperate areas to make sure they are OK." With hundreds...