Archive: December 2008
Intel revives debate
December 31, 2008HME News Staff
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--Intel could play a key role in solving the biggest barrier to entry for home telehealth for HME providers: lack of reimbursement.
Intel, a company known for its computer microprocessors and “Intel inside” commercials, plans to work with healthcare organizations like Aetna to conduct pilot studies to validate the benefits of its new home telehealth device, Intel Health Guide. If the studies show the device can improve health outcomes cost efficiently, Medicare may...
Freshman lawmaker prescribes fewer regs
December 31, 2008HME News Staff
Independent pharmacist Evan Vickers has a lot on his plate. Not only is he in the throes of accreditation, Vickers, owner of both Bulloch Drug and Township Professional Pharmacy in Cedar City, Utah, found time to successfully run for the state House of Representatives. He spoke to HME News about how he plans to work for the interests of small businesses and healthcare providers.
HME News: How will your pharmacy background serve you in your new role?
Evan Vickers: Anytime you're dealing with health...
Representation
December 31, 2008HME News Staff
Q. We have love-hate relationships with our manufacturers' sales reps. What do I need to know about reps to better understand them?
A. Your sales reps live in a crazy world and must be able to stomach different scenarios of risk and reward every day. Some reps operate as single individuals, while others are direct employees of a corporate sales and marketing company.
Good reps are specialists. Whether they are professional salespeople or accredited or licensed professionals, they bring solutions...
Experts: Don't give up on incontinence
December 31, 2008HME News Staff
The incontinence market presents a paradox for HME providers - the demand for products keeps rising, but reimbursement keeps sinking. Depending on the state, reimbursement for incontinence products may already be insufficient for a provider to squeeze out any margin.
But providers shouldn't throw in the towel, market experts say. They just need to get creative in how they position incontinence products for end-users. Emphasizing cash sales, product packages and value-added services are all ways...
CMS avoids oxygen details
December 31, 2008HME News Staff
BALTIMORE--An Open Door Forum Dec. 9 offered little relief for providers seeking advice on how to handle oxygen patients who move from their service areas.
Rehashing recently released guidance, CMS official Joel Kaiser said: “If it is less than 36 months, the beneficiary should make arrangements with their supplier to continue receiving oxygen from a new supplier at their new residence. After the cap, if the beneficiary relocates, their supplier is required to continue supplying oxygen equipment.”
But...
Pharmacy offers intensive care
December 31, 2008HME News Staff
CARLSBAD, Calif.--Diabetes patients should have their own personal pharmacist, say the founders of A1c Rx, a new full-service pharmacy that specializes in working one-on-one with its customers.
“When patients leave their physicians' offices, they are often asked to manage a very complex medical regimen,” said Michael Bosse, co-founder and CEO of A1c Rx, which opened in October. “We think pharmacists can serve a vital role to help them do that.”
New customers begin with a...
CPAPs in sleep labs? ‘I’m against the idea’
December 31, 2008HME News Staff
BALTIMORE--Providers may see more competition for supplying CPAPs this year. Responding to new CMS guidelines for sleep therapy, including a potentially bigger role for sleeb labs, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) began developing DME accreditation guidelines for labs this month. “CMS has enacted several policies that affect the practice of sleep medicine, (including) a recent CMS policy regarding the accreditation of sleep disorders centers as suppliers of DME,” stated AASM...
NCB, fraud agendas move forward
December 31, 2008HME News Staff
ARLINGTON, Va.--AAHomecare's task force to develop an alternative to national competitive bidding has gone to work.
“Without an alternative, the bidding program will start up again,” said Michael Reinemer, AAHomecare's vice president of communications and policy.
The association announced in October that it would create the task force, comprised of about 25 representatives, including providers, manufacturers, buying groups and state associations.
The task force hopes to present ideas...
Short takes
December 31, 2008HME News Staff
Drive Medical has acquired Achieve Medical Canada, a distributor of mobility products, patient aids and bathroom safety products in Toronto...SP Medical has acquired the LeverHaler MDI Spacer product line from BirdSong Medical…Diagnostic Devices and The Comfort Company have revamped their Web sites, and Mabis DMI has launched an e-commerce Web site...Juzo has launched an online video series to educate and train providers...Freedom Lift now operates as Freedom Sciences.
Apria Healthcare names new chief
December 31, 2008HME News Staff
LAKE FOREST, Calif.-- Apria Healthcare, a portfolio company of The Blackstone Group, named Dr. Norman Payson CEO in December. Since October, when Blackstone acquired Apria, Payson has served as Apria's executive chairman and interim CEO. He has been a member of the provider's board of directors for the past two years.
Previously, Payson served as CEO of two multi-million member publicly traded health plans: Healthsource, a physician-sponsored health plan now part of Cigna; and Oxford Health Plans,...