Archive: November 2015

WASHINGTON - CMS last week released revised fee schedule amounts for 11 product categories in non-bid areas as part of its upcoming national roll out of competitive bid pricing on Jan. 1, 2016.CMS has developed fee schedule amounts for non-bid areas in two ways: the average pricing in the competitive bidding areas in the region for regional areas; and the national weighted average plus 10% for rural areas.For oxygen concentrators, for example, that means a 24% reduction in reimbursement, on average,...

STUART, Fla. - Liberator Medical got a “strong price” when it sold to C.R. Bard recently, analysts say.Bard, a manufacturer of medical devices for vascular, urology, oncology and surgical specialty fields, agreed to pay $181 million for the provider of home medical supplies, including catheters, ostomy, diabetes and mastectomy.“That's a very strong price for sure,” said Rick Glass, president of Steven Richards & Associates. “Without a distributor or middleman (they could...

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - OptumRx's recent purchase of home infusion services provider AxelaCare Health Solutions gives the pharmacy benefit manager a platform for a more integrated model, say analysts.“OptumRx already has a specialty component and this gives them the infusion component, as well,” said Reg Blackburn, managing director of specialty pharmacy and infusion services for The Braff Group.OptumRx is part of healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group. Other buys by the company this year...

Editor's note: Previously, we ran stories about former Numotion exec Paul Bergantino and National Seating & Mobility getting into this market. This week, we look at what it means when complex rehab's biggest names get into a market full force.YARMOUTH, Maine - Even with two of complex rehab's biggest names entering the home accessibility market, HME consultant Bill Stelzer says there's more than enough business for everyone.In October, National Seating & Mobility launched AccessNSM in Pomfret Center,...

TROY, Ala. - When provider Jason Jones wanted to honor a deceased co-worker, he did so in a way that combined his two greatest passions: work and clean water.Mike Marler, a delivery tech for Jones Medical Supply, died of cancer in 2012. His employer recently donated a well in his name to a village in India.The $3,000 donation, which covered the cost of the well, its construction and its upkeep, comes from an event called WOD (Workout of the Day) for Water, which Jones co-founded. Every...

INDIANAPOLIS - The Office of Inspector General is not satisfied with National Government Services' progress in preventing overpayments for diabetic test strips.The OIG found that NGS, the DME MAC for Jurisdiction B, made payments to suppliers for dispensed strips when the beneficiaries had not nearly exhausted previously dispensed strips by different suppliers, resulting in overpayments of about $3.2 million in 2013.“NGS stated (in response to a previous review in 2007) that it was in the process...

A. Brand evangelists are your business's greatest fans. They not only purchase your products and services, but spread your message throughout their circles of influence. They log onto Facebook and Twitter to gush about positive experiences they had at your store, share photos of your products on Instagram and submit 5-star ratings on Google and Yelp.Brand evangelists believe in what you do, value what you stand for and can propel you to a new level of success. Additionally, brand evangelists can...

A. Because of competitive pressures insurance companies have been extending their payment period. Because the provider has no contractual relationship with the payer, there is no great urgency for payers to take care of the obligation, and the provider has no legal basis to fall back on. This puts the provider in a precarious situation that affects cash flow and patient relations. If the payer does not take care of the claim, the account ages and the chance of collecting from the patient is greatly...

A. As an HME provider you know that revenue is critical to your business. You also know that every activity that you or your staff engages in has a cost. Yet while HME providers typically know their product costs down to the penny, activity costs can be quite another matter. So when a new revenue opportunity comes along there is a huge temptation to price to win the business without taking all of one's cost into account. Of course, new business is exciting but that excitement can wear off quickly...

A. Typically when we receive questions about tracking metrics, they are from providers searching for ways to improve their business, but unable to determine which areas to focus on. It is increasingly imperative that organizations manage every area of their business through metrics, with a keen eye on constantly improving processes and streamlining or eliminating repetitive tasks and activities. We always recommend that providers start with measuring and monitoring business metrics like days...