Briefs

Medicare reform would speed trip from FDA to Medicare beneficiary WASHINGTON - Provisions of the Medicare reform legislation passed by the Senate and House in late June would speed up the time it takes for Medicare to make new FDA-approved medical technologies available to its beneficiaries. Today, Medicare beneficiaries typically have to wait between 15 months and five years for new technologies. Both the House and Senate bills called for national coverage and coding deadlines within 9 to 12 months. The House legislation would also allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to adopt ICD-10 as a new coding standard to facilitate better classification and payment for emerging technologies. Liko expands from hospital to home FRANKLIN, Mass. - Liko, a Swedish manufacturer of patient lifts, overhead ceiling lifts and slings, has formed a home care division to introduce its products to the North American market. Gary D. Nowitz, who as vice president of Liko's home care division will spearhead the roll-out here, said the 25-year-old company already has a well-established reputation in the hospital and long-term care markets. From its North American headquarters, Liko will provide sales, marketing and technical support, including a lift training lab and a fully stocked warehouse. Liko will take its lifts to market through independent home care reps and direct-to-dealer efforts. Invacare and Arnold Palmer take to the highways ELYRIA, Ohio - Invacare has signed a new five-year deal to have its products delivered to distribution facilities by a trucking company that will carry Invacare ads on the sides and backs of its trucks. The ads will span the whole side of a tractor-trailer and will feature Invacare spokesman and golf pro Arnold Palmer alongside Invacare's logo and slogan, ‘'Yes, you can,” according to a report in Crain's Cleveland Business journal. Advertising on the sides of trucks will be new for Invacare; the company intends to eventually run advertising on 50 trucks.