Guest Blog
Growing your business with wound care
April 16, 2021Heather Trumm
Editor’s note: The following guest commentary appears in the new VGM Q2 Playbook, “Growing Your Business in Today’s Environment.” VGM members can download the playbook in full here. If you are interested in becoming a member, go here.
You know me, you’ve heard me say it before—wound care is important for all DMEPOS providers because every patient has skin, and skin health affects each of us. The skin is our largest organ. Not only does it protect us against...
The new reality of patient-as-payer
September 18, 2020HME News Staff
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In theory, health care consumerism is a straight-forward idea: Shifting costs to consumers, typically in the form of high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), gives them an incentive to make informed decisions about the health care services they purchase.
In practice, consumerism represents a significant challenge to providers' bottom lines. A recent report reveals that for 74% of providers, patient collections take over a month. Further, 66% of providers said patient...
Unlocking the front door: Keys to reopening your business safely after COVID-19
June 22, 2020HME News Staff
The coronavirus pandemic's effect on daily life has been unprecedented, and everyone—including business owners—has looked forward to returning to normal (in whatever shape that takes). Whether you find yourself in an area that has already lifted stay-at-home orders or is about to, there's a lot to consider before resuming operations.
Especially in the health care space, your customers may be part of a vulnerable population. And to protect your customers, your employees and your community,...
Medtrade 2020: Pondering possibilities
June 9, 2020HME News Staff
ATLANTA - What will the Nov. 2-4 Medtrade look like in 2020? Wider aisles, sanitation stations, dedicated entrances/exits and reimagined registration areas are all on the table. The Medtrade team is discussing these and other possibilities for putting on the event coming out of the COVID-19 situation.The March 3-5 Medtrade Spring in Las Vegas seems like a lifetime ago, and since then trade shows across the country have been canceled or put on virtually to varying degrees. As caretakers of the Medtrade...
Don't underestimate the 'sidekicks'
April 17, 2020HME News Staff
With COVID-19 permeating every aspect of our lives and our media experience, we look for the good in our communities and continue to celebrate the front-line workers: health care staff, truckers, grocery store clerks, gas station attendants and the list continues. They are the heroes tirelessly working so we can stay at home and abide by the shelter and place orders.
Have you wondered about the “sidekicks” who are behind the scenes making sure the heroes and heroines have what they need...
The Paycheck Protection Program from A to Z
April 13, 2020Matthew Fischer
To aid businesses and their employees during the coronavirus crisis, the Small Business Administration is offering loans, called Paycheck Protection Program loans, up to a specific limit to cover payroll and other costs. The PPP contains a simplified application process (some may disagree) and fewer documentation requirements as opposed to typical loans. The PPP is available through June 30, 2020. If you are considering this program, it is important to determine the details before proceeding with...
Relaxed HIPAA requirements for telehealth encounters during the COVID-19 national emergency
March 22, 2020HME News Staff
On March 13, 2020, the Trump Administration announced regulatory flexibilities to help health care providers and states to respond to and contain the spread of coronavirus. Included in the announcement was that CMS will activate blanket waivers in an effort to ease certain requirements and to prevent gaps in access.One of these waivers is to expand telehealth services. Under this new waiver, Medicare can pay for office, hospital and other visits furnished via telehealth across the country, including...
CQRC to CMS on coronavirus outbreak: We need your help to remove barriers to care
March 13, 2020HME News Staff
Editor's note: The following letter was written by Dan Starck, chairman, Council for Quality Respiratory Care, and sent to CMA Administrator Seema Verma.I am writing on behalf of the Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) to highlight how our members—the home oxygen, sleep, and ventilation therapy suppliers and manufacturers-are prepared to help during the COVID-19 emergency when patients diagnosed with the disease have access to the equipment and supplies they need to recover. For us...
Leadership and clinical roles in pandemic response
March 4, 2020HME News Staff
The recent coronavirus pandemic is a good reminder that we should be planning now for the next pandemic. And the one after that. These events are matters of “when” they will hit, not “if.”
Natural disasters—whether severe ice storms, Hurricane Katrina or pandemics—also have reminded HME providers that they are first responders and should be built in to disaster protocols.
There's no excuse for Americans to get caught flat-footed, since we have done plenty...
Miriam Lieber's 2020 checklist
January 10, 2020HME News Staff
A New Year's Resolution is “a promise to do something differently in the new year,” according to Merriam Webster.
For the HME industry, a few ways “to do something differently” in the new year and in the new decade, might include one or more of the following:
1) Software
Implement one or more new software initiative(s) that help you streamline the order-to-cash process. For example, mobile delivery and auto pay are software initiatives that have contributed significantly to...