In brief: SeQual partners, VGM discusses

SAN DIEGO - SeQual has joined forces with AOTI, a manufacturer of wound care products, in a bid to penetrate the European market, the companies announced Jan. 1. AOTI, based in Tamarac, Fla., and Galway, Ireland, will add SeQual's Integra and Eclipse 2 to its product lines, which include topical wound oxygen products. "Today's partnership brings together two companies whose products benefit patients suffering from COPD, as well as those from chronic wounds," stated SeQual CEO Ron Richard in a release. "By combining our sales, service and clinical resources we feel confident in offering the European market better overall support." The customer and service support functions of SeQual Technologies Europe will also relocate to Galway.



Amid blizzard conditions, healthcare discussion heats up

WATERLOO, Iowa - More than 30 people braved blizzard conditions Jan. 12 to weigh in on healthcare reform during a town hall-style discussion hosted by The VGM Group. Providers and hospital and assisted living administrators shared their concerns with Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa. The meeting was held in response to president-elect Barack Obama's call for community healthcare discussions. Braley urged attendants to "help me put a human face on the problems you deal with every day." You can view the entire session at www.vgm.com.



AAH details fly-in

WASHINGTON -- AAHomecare's one-day fly-in, "Homecare on Capitol Hill Day," kicks off at 8 a.m. on Feb. 11 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va.--a short shuttle ride from Reagan National Airport. The day will include issue briefings and discussion until 9:15 a.m. House and Senate meetings will follow at 10 a.m. Attendees are also invited to attend a reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 10 at AAHomecare's offices in Crystal City. State associations will coordinate Hill meetings and AAHomecare asks providers to work directly with them. Meeting times will be posted on the AAHomecare blog, http://blog.aahomecare.org. For more information and to register, visit www.aahomecare.org.



CMS issues accreditation reminder

BALTIMORE - CMS last week reminded providers who wish to continue billing Medicare to get their accreditation applications in by Jan. 31 to ensure they have time to complete the process by the Sept. 30, 2009, deadline. All providers of durable medical equipment, supplies, therapeutic shoes, parenteral/enteral nutrition, and orthotics and prosthetics must become accredited. Certain persons are exempt from the accreditation requirement, including physicians, physical and occupational therapists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, dieticians and opticians.