Apria's Tennessee support center still growing

JACKSON, Tenn. - Apria Healthcare plans to hire another 50 people by the end of this year at its facility in here according to local news reports. In 2004, the provider took over a 55,000-square-foot space and had about 200 employees. By the end of this year, it will encompass 100,000 square feet and have about 650 employees, who provide support to about 25% of Apria's East Coast branches. Most of the employees in Jackson are responsible for taking orders from patients and referral sources, processing payments, and doing collections.

Max-Wellness opens first in-hospital location

CLEVELAND - Max-Wellness opened its first hospital retail store July 25 in Lake Health's West Medical Center. The 600-square-foot location offers health and wellness products for patients being discharged, along with products like vitamins, sleep essentials and healthy snacks for visitors and staff. Max-Wellness also operates four standalone locations in Cleveland, Sarasota, Fla., and Naples, Fla. Max-Wellness was founded by Michael Feuer, founder of office supply superstore OfficeMax.

AmeriCare seeks to reduce re-admissions

PONTIAC, Mich. - AmeriCare Medical in August announced that is has partnered with St. Joseph Mercy Oakland on a program to reduce hospital re-admissions and cut Medicare costs. The "Total Care Experience" will assess patients before discharge to see if they are at risk of being re-admitted to the hospital. Patient care coordinators will then follow up with the patient to see how well post-discharge instructions are being followed at home, and determine what, if any, changes need to be made. "Re-admissions are a common problem for any hospital," said AmeriCare President Greg Jamian. "We believe (this) will be a great solution for patients to receive the care they need at home, instead of wasting multiple trips back and forth from the hospital."

Two convicted in nine-year fraud scheme

CULVER CITY, Calif. - The co-owners of Caravan Medial Supplies and Prosperity Home Health Services were convicted of Medicare fraud in July, according to a press release from the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services. Evans Oniha and Camillus Ehigie pled guilty to multiple counts of healthcare fraud. From October 2002 through February 2011, the two conspired with others to defraud Medicare by paying "marketers" for beneficiary information. That information was used to submit false claims for DME and home health services that were not medically necessary and often not even provided. Between the two companies, along with a third owned by Ehigie, Osbed Medical Supply, the two submitted false claims totaling nearly $20 million.