In brief: MPP calls set for this week, consumer groups confirmed for Medtrade

In brief: MPP calls set for this week, consumer groups confirmed for Medtrade
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare will hold a “Fight for Market Pricing” conference call Monday, Oct. 1, to stoke congressional support for a bill that would enact a market-pricing program (MPP) for HME. During the call, set for 2 p.m. EST, stakeholders will discuss strategies and tactics for building support for H.R. 6490, which was introduced in the House of Representatives on Sept. 21. The next day, on Oct. 2 at 1:30 p.m. EST, The VGM Group will host a “Lunch Bucket” with John Gallagher on how to reach out to lawmakers about the bill. FMI on AAH's call: (202) 372-0751. FMI on VGM's call: https://vgmservices.webex.com/vgmservices/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=740225124.

Consumer groups set for Medtrade
ANAHEIM, Calif. - MK Battery, in cooperation with Medtrade, has released a final list of eight groups that will be participating in the Consumer Advocacy Pavilion at Medtrade. The groups are: Muscular Dystrophy Association, American Sleep Apnea Association, COPD Foundation, ITEM Coalition, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Shepherd Center/Touch the Future, United Cerebral Palsy and UsersFirst. “We are actively encouraging Medtrade exhibitors to sponsor the participation of these consumer groups and we ask attendees to donate to the Power for Funding 2012 program,” stated Kevin Gaffney, group show director for Medtrade, in a press release. “This initiative is aimed at uniting all stakeholders in the HME industry.” MK Battery founded Power for Funding in 2010. Over the past two years, the initiative has raised nearly $150,000 for NCART, NRRTS and AAHomecare. To kick-start this year's fundraising campaign, MK Battery is contributing $50,000, most of which will be donated equally to the participating consumer groups. FMI on sponsorships and donations, go to http://www.medtrade.com/medtrade/show/advocacy-pavilion.

American Diabetes Wholesale goes international
POMPANO BEACH, Fl. - American Diabetes Wholesale (ADW), an online supplier of direct-to-consumer diabetes testing supplies, announced Sept. 21 that it is expanding its reach to include international shipping, according to a press release. The move was made possible through a partnership with Bongo International, a provider of international shopping cart solutions. “This expansion is something we have wanted to do for a long time,” Chris Maguire, vice president and co-founder of ADW, stated. In the past, ADW has had to turn away international orders. “But now we can service them,” Maguire added.

Survey: Local pharmacy outshines mail order
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Mail-order pharmacies continue to get lower marks in customer satisfaction, according to a survey released last week. On a scale of 1,000, overall satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies averages 792, compared to 814 for brick-and-mortar pharmacies, states J.D Power and Associates in a press release. That's down 14 points from 2011. Customer satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies is measured by four factors: cost competitiveness, prescription delivery, prescription ordering, and customer service. For brick-and-mortar pharmacies, it's measured by five factors: prescription ordering and pick-up process, store, cost competitiveness, non-pharmacist staff, and pharmacist. Satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies is significantly higher among customers who choose to use mail-order pharmacies rather then those who are required to use it (810 vs. 768); and satisfaction with cost competitiveness is higher in that same group (773 vs. 714). When it comes to choosing between the two, a convenient location and customer service are more important for the brick-and-mortar pharmacy. To read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jd-power-and-associates-reports-customer-satisfaction-with-mail-order-pharmacies-trails-satisfaction-with-brick-and-mortar-pharmacies-2012-09-27  

McKesson to invest in new operation
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - McKesson Corp. will invest $36.9 million to establish a new distribution operation in Frederick County, Va., the company announced Sept. 24. The operation, which will add 205 new jobs, will distribute medical and surgical supplies to physician offices, surgery centers, long-term care facilities and home care businesses in a regional service area that includes New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, eastern Pennsylvania, eastern West Virginia, and northern North Carolina. “We're pleased to expand our operations in Virginia, the home of our Medical-Surgical business headquarters,” stated Stanton McComb, president, McKesson Medical-Surgical, in a press release. “It's another great opportunity to match the strength of Virginia's infrastructure and labor force with our strong growth.”

Medline to build new distribution center
MUNDELEIN, Ill. - Medline Industries will open a state-of-the-art distribution facility in Maumelle, Ark., the company stated in a Sept. 24 press release. The facility, which will open spring 2013, is Medline's 37th distribution center in the United States. The 100,000-square-foot facility will service Medline's healthcare customers, including hospitals, nursing homes, surgery centers and homecare agencies throughout the state of Arkansas. The center will initially create about 10 to 15 new jobs in Central Arkansas and will be constructed with the latest energy efficient technology, including a rating system that measures a building's performance in energy efficiency.

COPD linked to poor sleep
DUBLIN, Ireland - People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more likely to sleep poorly than their peers without the condition, a new study says. The study, published in Respirology, a medical journal, was conducted by researchers at St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Researchers found that low oxygen levels in arterial blood, which is caused by COPD, can damage sleep quality, and may lead to a host of other debilitating symptoms. “Patients with COPD frequently report fatigue, sleepiness and impaired quality of life,” said Walter McNicholas, a professor in the department of respiratory and sleep medicine at St. Vincent's University.