Archive: August 2008

PLAINVIEW, N.Y., and PITTSBURGH--Fastrack Healthcare and MedSage Technologies have integrated their software and voice recognition systems, allowing providers to better manage operations and patients, company officials say. The integration, announced in July, is a first for both Fastrack and MedSage. “We wouldn't do this with just anyone,” said Fastrack President Spencer Kay. “We're doing it with a company that has a proven model and that provides distinct benefits to our clients.” Now...

TOTOWA, N.J.--GE Healthcare has acquired Vital Signs, an international provider of medical products in care areas that include anesthesia, respiratory, sleep therapy and emergency medicine, the companies announced July 24. As part of the deal, Vital Signs will become part of GE Healthcare's Clinical Systems business, which provides patient monitoring, anesthesia delivery and acute respiratory care technologies.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Medi-Cal, the Medicaid program for California, has stopped paying providers because lawmakers haven't been able to hammer out a state budget. “The last check write was July 26,” said Bob Achermann, executive director of the California Association of Medical Product Suppliers (CAMPS). “There will be no more money until the budget is adopted.” California has been without a budget since July 1, as lawmakers try to close a $17 billion budget gap. In February,...

CARLSBAD, Calif.--Progressive Medical has snagged an exclusive contract to distribute Itamar's Watch-PAT, the company announced in July. Watch-PAT is a sleep diagnosis system that allows clinicians to diagnosis patients in almost any setting. The announcement comes on the heels of Progressive Medical's success with its sleep network.

With Brightree on the acquisition trail, HME News asked a handful of vendors: Is the software market for the home medical equipment industry ripe for consolidation? Here's what they had to say. Spencer Kay, president, Fastrack Healthcare Systems There's more room for consolidation among software vendors who serve smaller providers than those who serve mid-range to larger providers, Kay said. “There are about 10 (vendors) catering to smaller providers-you know, start-ups and mom-and-pop...

COLUMBIA, S.C.--Revisions to the manual wheelchair codes could still be a long time coming, depending on whether CMS makes them a priority for a new contractor. Palmetto GBA, the Statistical Analysis DME Regional Carrier (SADMERC), headed up by well-liked medical director Dr. Doran Edwards, has made significant progress in revising manual wheelchair codes in the past few years. But in August, CMS replaced Palmetto with Noridian Services, and the SADMERC became the Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding...

SAN DIEGO--SeQual Technologies announced in July that it has partnered with the American Lung Association of California and Seton Medical Center to support a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease survivor as he bikes more than 500 miles of the California coast to raise awareness about COPD. “Mark's Breathe Easy Tour” will follow 65-year-old Mark Junge over the course of a 12-day ride on a bicycle fitted with an Eclipse 2, a SeQual portable oxygen concentrator.

WASHINGTON--To cover its bases, the rehab industry had legislators clarify in their bill to delay national competitive bidding that seating and accessories for power wheelchairs-not manual wheelchairs-are susceptible to a 9.5% cut. Only power wheelchairs and related seating and accessories were included in Round 1 of the program, but the rehab industry feared CMS, left to its own devices, would also apply the cut to manual wheelchairs. “There was no language in the bill that made a determination...

ROCKVILLE, Md.--Michelle Colvard from Houston was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America 2009 on July 26 in Rockville, Md. Colvard, who has been disabled since birth due to spina bifida, works as the executive director of People with Disabilities, part of the mayor's office. She has a master's degree in health promotion from the University of Texas School of Public Health. She enjoys skiing and racing her Mini Cooper in autocross competitions. Colvard replaces Kristen McCosh of Boston.

Aconfluence of negative factors has forced the HME industry to scramble for ways to maintain operations while providing patients with the best technology available. Proponents of portable oxygen systems believe the latest generation of equipment delivers on both those counts. Rising fuel costs, dearth of credit, slashed Medicare oxygen reimbursement and stingier private insurance coverage have all conspired to strangle respiratory provider cash flows. Between the malaise in the general economy and...