Mobility

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Numotion has agreed to pay $7 million to settle a lawsuit related to Medicaid claims for mobility equipment as part of an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Kentucky.  The company says the allegations focused mainly on a complicated set of Medicaid billing regulations that it believed, in good faith, that it was interpreting correctly.   “Numotion is committed to cooperating with external investigations, as well...

LUBBOCK, Texas – NRRTS has a full slate of 24 live webinars scheduled for 2023 – and it’s still adding more.  Executive Director Weesie Walker said in late December that NRRTS was working on adding a webinar on the funding climate for complex rehab technology in Canada.  “If you’re talking postural support or seating and positioning, it doesn’t matter what side of the border you’re on,” she said. “Funding is the one that, if you’re...

YARMOUTH, Maine – Complex rehab stakeholders could start using a “basic order for repair” on Jan. 1 to meet Medicare’s requirement to show continued need.  Previously, Medicare required that providers show continued need in the medical record within 12 months of a repair.  “This is huge,” said Dan Fedor, director of reimbursement and education for U.S. Rehab, a division of The VGM Group. “This means an order covers repairs and continued need...

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Lifeway Mobility’s Baltimore team recently completed a stairlift installation that helped six families living in a condominium building here remain independent.  The team, led by Paul Bowen, regional operations manager, faced several challenges, including getting approvals from the building inspector, the City Permit Department and the local Fire Department. The Fire Marshall, for one, was concerned the stairlift would make exiting the building in an emergency...

WATERLOO, Iowa – Tyler Mahncke says his focus as the new vice president of U.S. Rehab has been on “building out solutions” for the organization’s provider members.  Organizations like U.S. Rehab, a part of VGM & Associates, are now about more than negotiating manufacturer pricing for providers, he points out.  “What I’m really trying to do is listen to the needs of our members and building out services around those needs, based on what’s going...

PITTSBURGH – Hybrid events are increasingly more common, but the 38th International Seating Symposium will take place exclusively in-person on April 13-15 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.  “We’re focusing on making this a really good in-person event,” said Mark Schmeler, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, associate professor and vice chair for educating and training in the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. “We’re...

LUBBOCK, Texas – Weesie Walker became executive director of NRRTS on an interim basis in 2013, when Simon Margolis, the organization’s first leader, retired, and she never left. But it’s time to hand over the reins to someone else, she says.  “It’s been nine years, which is longer than I had planned,” said Walker, ATP/SMS. “Once you get into it, it’s exciting to see the things that we’re able to accomplish.”  NRRTS has assembled...

DURHAM, N.C. – Healthcare Equipment Inc., a family-owned provider of custom rehab and DME, has acquired Powell Medical, a provider of pediatric-focused custom rehab and DME.  Tom Powell, who owns Powell Medical, is retiring.  “I was humbled when Tom contacted me,” said Larry Lankford, owner of Healthcare Equipment. “The fact that Tom had the faith and trust in Healthcare Equipment Inc. to continue his high level of service to the Powell Medical family of clients...

BARTLETT, Tenn. - Next Day Access is more than halfway to its three-year goal of 50 locations, recently adding franchises in Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Fairfax, Va.  “Our focus is in North America—we opened up Canada about three years ago,” said Dave Clark, president. “Ideally, a good franchise territory is around 1 million to 1.5 million people. We find that to be the right amount for the revenue that someone is looking to earn in a market.”  In...

BURLINGTON, Ontario – The 34th Canadian Seating and Mobility Conference in October was the only game in town in 2022, with the International Seating Symposium scheduled for March in Vancouver canceled, helping to boost attendance.  CSMC drew about 700 attendees, about 100 attendees shy of its record, says Steve Cranna, director of business development and government relations for VGM Canada, Mobility Group, which has hosted the event since 2009.  “The DNA of our conference...