Archive: March 2007

There are so many ways to think about bath safety products that the marketing/retail possibilities are virtually limitless, manufacturers say. They can not only be grouped together with other categories like mobility but also be merchandised as home furnishings, plumbing fixtures, even personal hygiene products. While the basic portfolio includes grab bars, safety railings, toilet seats and commodes, bath benches and transfer benches, the merchant can improvise and include other items according to...

In 2008, CMS will begin requiring that certain PMD candidates undergo evaluation by an ATP (assistive technology practitioner) independent of the DME supplying the equipment. In case you didn't feel it, CMS just slapped the rehab provider again. While the disrespect and lack of trust our industry has incurred has in some respects been earned, we should not concede every time someone insults us. This non-reaction allows us to become a scapegoat instead of positioning ourselves as the value-added service...

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - The American Stock Exchange notified Arcadia Resources on Feb. 14 that the provider no longer complies with AMEX's listing requirements due to an unfilled seat on its board of directors. Until Arcadia regains compliance, it will trade under the symbol KAD.BC. Anna Maria Nekoranec resigned from Arcadia's board and audit committee Jan. 28, 2007, to become a consultant to the provider. Without her, the board has two independent directors and two employed executive officers; the audit...

Providers may not be jumping on the accreditation bandwagon just yet, but the number of consultants hanging out their shingle is on the rise. But are they qualified? "It's a great growth opportunity, but when somebody that could barely even spell the word six months ago has now become a consultant, it sort of puts a bad taste in my mouth," said Bob Weir, a surveyor for ACHC. "Make sure the person you're hiring knows what they're doing." Ted Jones, of Burbank, Calif.-based consulting firm IB Network,...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - If the number of questions asked during AAHomecare's Feb. 15 teleconference on national competitive bidding is any indication, providers aren't ready to talk about the nitty-gritty of how to participate in NCB, which CMS plans to kick off later this year. Only one of 50-plus listeners asked a question during "Ready or Not, Here it Comes--Competitive Bidding is Just Round the Corner." The teleconference comprised a nearly 90-minute presentation by consultant Miriam Lieber and a brief...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Liberty Medical's third quarter revenues jumped 34% to $177.2 million for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, up from $131.9 million during the same period the previous year. President Patrick Ryan credited the company's year-old pharmacy program--which adds 400 new customers per day--for driving that growth. Pharmacy revenues were up 157% over the same period last year, to $55.2 million. The company plans to partner with Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based Medco Health Solutions to fill...

Playing by the rules for manual wheelchairs, walkers and canes has cost Brian Brice, an outside sales representative for Jeff's Surgical, at least 10 accounts, he says. To provide the equipment, Brice tells physicians and therapists that Jeff's Surgical needs chart notes, ideally ones that show they have followed the required algorithm for determining medical necessity. He reminds them that the algorithm, part of a national coverage decision (NCD) released almost two years ago, applies not only to...

While former HME provider Tim Pontius isn't closing any mega deals yet, he is learning the M&A ropes in his new position at Steven Richards & Associates. In 2005, Pontius sold his Toledo, Ohio-based Young Medical Equipment to Apria with the help of SRA. He recently joined the Tarpon Springs, Fla.-based M&A firm as a managing director where his background helps other providers through the selling process. HME News: What sent you over the M&A fence? Tim Pontius: One of the things that I struggled with...

On Feb. 6, I attended Discovery through Design's "2007 Rolling with Style Gala" as part of New York's Fashion Week. What a great event. From the red carpet to the reception, from the fashions to the speeches and the entertainment, it was fun and glamour all the way. The show was the result of a three-year effort by Discovery through Design, a group of four inspiring women in wheelchairs, including Sunrise Medical's Marilyn Hamilton. The organization's goal: to honor women's lifestyles, create awareness...

YARMOUTH, Maine - The M&A market for home infusion businesses heated up in 2006 and the continued forecast is "scorching." "We probably have 20 active buyers for every single seller that's out there right now," said Jonathan Sadock, a managing partner with Paragon Ventures in Philadelphia. "We're seeing strong margins and a rapidly increasing market." In 2006, there were 17 deals in the sector and 2007 looks just as strong, says Dexter Braff, president of Pittsburgh-based The Braff Group. "There's...