Archive: February 2004
Sen. Grassley asks CMS to explain PWC coverage
February 29, 2004HME News Staff
March 1, 2004
WASHINGTON - Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, asked CMS last week to explain how it developed a December coverage clarification that limits power wheelchairs to beneficiaries who are bed- or chair-confined.
"While ensuring that we do all that we can to eliminate fraud and waste from government programs," Sen. Grassley wrote in a letter to CMS, "I also want to be certain that we are not inappropriately preventing our eligible citizens...
M&A 2004: Buyers still very hungry
February 29, 2004HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine - Despite the Medicare Prescription Drug Act's negative impact on DME reimbursement, Apria, Lincare, Air Products Healthcare and the other big guys still have a hungry-man appetite when it comes to making acquisitions.
“If we are going to overcome these cuts, we are going to have to grow through it,” said Todd Christopher, CEO of Home Care Supply, the nation's largest independent HME. “To do that, we'll have to pick up the pace [of acquisitions].”
Said another...
Providers may give managed care a second look
February 29, 2004HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine - Medicare has been the payer to turn to in recent years following a period of hard times for managed care contracts, but all that could change as massive cuts look to revamp the Medicare fee schedule.
“There are ebbs and flows in the managed care business,” said Schuyler Hoss, president of Northwest Healthcare Management in Vancouver, Wash. “As one [payer] initiates change and reform, people gravitate to the other. I have seen this over 20 years, like the tide,...
Power chair powerhouse: It’s time to diversify
February 29, 2004HME News Staff
Even though “95% of those who inquire don't qualify,” Mobility Products Unlimited has built an empire providing power chairs to Medicare beneficiaries across the country. Now CEO Brian Dylewski is looking to do the same in markets outside mobility, such as respiratory.
Brian Dylewski
In just seven years, the Hollywood, Fla., company has grown to become the second-largest provider of power chairs in the country. Driven mainly by a sophisticated direct-mail marketing campaign, the company...
Scooter Store plans no more layoffs, for now
February 29, 2004HME News Staff
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - The Scooter Store, which terminated 200 employees in January due to a drop-off in Medicare business volume and reimbursement, has “no additional layoffs planned at this time,” said Margaret McGuckin, executive vice president of marketing.
Nevertheless, as an industry “I don't think we've felt the full impact yet” of Medicare's “over reaction” to fraud and abuse, she said last month.
The “over reaction” McGuckin refers to is...
Respiratory drives Invacare sales
February 29, 2004HME News Staff
ELYRIA, Ohio - Invacare rang up $343 million in sales during the fourth quarter, up 22% over last year's tally. Foreign currency gains made up six points of that growth, while acquisitions represented another six points. Net earnings jumped to $23.7 million for the quarter, up from $17.6 million last year.
North American sales increased 25% to $251 million. Leading the charge was Invacare's respiratory group, which posted a 53% boost over last year. Invacare credited concentrator and Venture HomeFill...
Expansion
February 29, 2004HME News Staff
OCONOMOWOC, Wisc. - Bruno has always prided itself on groundbreaking products. Now it is breaking ground on a new 100,000 square foot manufacturing plant.
The new facility underscores the suburban Milwaukee mobility products manufacturer's vision of unbridled opportunity in the HME industry despite potentially catastrophic Medicare reimbursement cuts and heightened government scrutiny of K0011 power chair sales. CEO Michael R. Bruno told HME News that he intends to reach $100 million in sales in...
Legal
February 29, 2004HME News Staff
Supplier enrollment: How to do it right
With J. Everett Wilson
Q. I received a notice from my Medicare carrier for failing to provide accurate information on my supplier enrollment application. What are the penalties for this and how could I avoid them?
A. Medicare carriers are now regularly cross-checking the services and equipment that DMEs are providing to patients with the information provided in their supplier enrollment applications. The forms must include comprehensive information on the...
Briefs
February 29, 2004HME News Staff
Option Care opens in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS - Option Care, a leading provider of specialty pharmacy and home infusion services, announced the opening of a new location here as a way to fuel continued growth in the market. The new 10,000-square-foot facility, which is triple the size of the existing location, will provide a range of infusion services. The new office also will feature an ambulatory infusion clinic, which offers another cost-effective alternate site for administering infusion therapies.
Sales...
Medtrade Spring draws a full house
February 29, 2004HME News Staff
LAS VEGAS - New surprises and challenges popped up in every corner of the DME industry last year, from the passing of the Medicare Prescription Drug Act to the average sales price's creation to the DMERC clarification of non-ambulatory.
Las Vegas is the site of Medtrade Spring and AAHomecare's Continuum of Care conference, March 16-18.
Now, with Medtrade Spring at our doorsteps, it's time to regroup.
“Unfortunately, when you are an HME provider you don't have a huge network at home, especially...