Archive: June 2003

Cuts unintentionally aimed at custom rehab HARTFORD, Conn. - NEMED members who believe a proposed $2.5 million Medicaid cut unfairly singles out the state's rehab providers met with state officials to suggest alternatives. Language in the proposed budget concerned members, as it was worded to impact only custom wheelchair providers. A proposal explaining why this cut would affect only those providers and suggesting other alternative savings was submitted to the state. Officials said it was not their...

CHICAGO - The principal of an HME company exhibiting at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies 17th Annual Meeting calls sleep medicine “a pioneering field.” And as the lone provider booth at APSS in early June, Greg Schoonover, managing director for Health Technology Resources, is something of a pioneer himself. The Northbrook, Ill.-based home sleep care provider set up a booth this year specifically to meet with sleep physicians and introduce them to the latest in home-based sleep...

LANSING, Mich. - Approximately 100 business owners, executives and other HME industry personnel turned out for a Northwood conference on national competitive [NCB] bidding May 29. A primer on the controversial reimbursement mechanism for HME providers, the all-day seminar was billed as an opportunity to listen to the “truth” about national competitive bidding. Northwood recently raised a hue and cry from some sectors of the homecare industry after the provider network began lobbying...

Stephen D. Neese, Invacare's vice president of e-commerce, received a Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award (DSMA) from the Sales and Marketing Executives of Cleveland for enhancing Invacare's once brochure-like Web site into a productive, transactional cost-saving Web presence…Ron Bunce, an Otto Bock sales rep., has recently passed RESNA's ATS exam… The MED Group has hired Chris Henry as Regional Manager for the Northeast region. He will be responsible for on-site visits and direct support...

WASHINGTON - Frustrated by Medicare's narrow definition of “in the home” and other antiquated policies for the disabled, a new coalition of rehab providers has formed to do battle against such restrictive statutory language. The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) coalition - now comprised of 65 consumer and provider groups such as the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the American Foundation for the Blind - wants CMS to relax restrictions that prevent reimbursement...

WATERLOO, Iowa - VGM's Heartland Conference is probably the only industry event that offers attendees the chance to play cow-chip bingo (more on that later) and pick up some serious CEU units. That mix of laid-back, have-fun hospitality and devotion to education has won the educational event a strong following in just its second appearance. This year's show, held May 28-31, attracted 403 provider attendees and 78 vendor exhibitors, both numbers about double the debut event, said VGM President Ron...

MODESTO, Calif. - It's “all aboard” the DMETrain for some 1,200 employees at Praxair, the Danbury, Conn.-based national oxygen provider. Only instead of hopping a train, they will be jumping online for professional training. Praxair is the latest client to sign up for DMETrain Education's Internet-based instruction service, joining a list that includes McKesson Medical Management, Mediq/PRN Life Support Services, NeighborCare and Air Liquide. According to DMETrain President Robert Thompson,...

QUEENS, N.Y. - Medstar Surgical moved into a big, beautiful warehouse in early April and owner Zeb Pirzada couldn't be happier. Who can blame him? By setting up shop in the 35,000-square-foot space Pirzada consolidated three warehouses under one roof, reaping all the efficiencies that go with the new streamlined operation. “We have become very efficient,” said Pirzada, 29. “We designed the office to have the paper flow go really well, and it has helped us out in billing things...

Skin ulcer wound-care market tops $2.5 billion NEW YORK - The worldwide market for wound care products aimed at the care of skin ulcers topped $2.5 billion in 2002, according to a new study released last month from Kalorama Information. The United States generates roughly 60% to 65% of that $2.5 billion, and as much as 75% of the high-tech wound care products (biologicals and moist dressings). When it comes to more mature products like pressure relief mattresses, anti-infective products and gauzes,...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - In a May article, “RATC says no cap for K0009,” we alluded to the K0009 code as the tilt-in-space wheelchair. In fact, the K0009 code is a “not otherwise coded” wheelchair. The RATC submitted a HCPCS code application to CMS in March of 2002 requesting the creation of a new HCPCS code for adult manual tilt-in-space wheelchairs. When the code was granted, CMS categorized the new code under the payment category of capped rental. After receiving additional information...