Archive: January 2006

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Few people working in the HME industry today have as much perspective as Shelly Prial. The 79-year-old elder statesman has seen it all over the past 50 years--as a pharmacist, sales agent and president of the Homecare Providers Co-op. Well known for his business acumen, oration skills and strategic thinking, Prial still maintains a high profile in the HME industry, giving presentations at Medtrade and state association meetings, working as a consultant and serving as government...

The big, bold headline on the front page of HME News' December issue said it all: "An industry under siege." That story detailed how Senate leaders proposed eliminating the capped rental option for durable medical equipment as a way to shave about $910 million from the 2006 Medicare/Medicaid budget. The result, if enacted, reportedly would suppress the average provider's annual revenue by 3% to 5%. On the same page, another story detailed how CMS slashed the respiratory-med dispensing fee from...

Here is something I'd love to see: 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries in power wheelchairs rolling through Washington D.C. Behind them march dozens of portable oxygen users, followed by beneficiaries supported by rollators or being pushed in manual wheelchairs, a squadron of scooters next and pulling up the rear, a platoon of people wearing CPAP masks. What a sight. Do you think lawmakers, regulators and policy wonks would pay attention to such an outpouring of industry support? Do you think The New York...

LONGMONT, Colo. - Sunrise Medical has joined a growing list of HME manufacturers that have either raised their free-freight minimum or increased product prices to help offset the high cost of fuel. As of Jan. 9, 2006, Sunrise increased is free-freight minimum on all non-Web orders from $250 to $1,000. (See related story for a detailed outline of the Sunrise changes.) Also in January, Nova Ortho-Med increased its free freight minimum from $600 to $800. And late last year, Shoprider added a $20 shipping...

Q. Now that the interim final rule (IFR) has been delayed, what do I need to properly document power mobility devices? A. On Dec. 30, 2005, President Bush signed into law the Labor-HHS appropriations bill (H.R. 3010), which includes language prohibiting CMS from implementing the IFR on power mobility devices before April 1, 2006. The provision instructs CMS to issue a new final rule and hold 45-day comment and transition periods. We have answers to some questions but not all. At this point, regarding...

I would like to respond to the brief article in the rehab section of the December 2005 issue of HME News, in which Dr. Paul Hughes, Region A medical director, makes several comments about the responsibilities of suppliers in obtaining adequate documentation for coverage of HME. His point that "a single piece of paper" is not adequate to document need for equipment is well taken. I also would agree that an ethical and up-to-date supplier would obtain additional documentation like hospital discharge...

YARMOUTH, Maine - Spend a few minutes with Dr. Kevin Huffman, a board certified bariatric physician, and you'll soon realize--if you haven't already--that America's obesity epidemic holds tremendous business opportunity for HME providers. Unfortunately, it comes with an equally tremendous cost to the healthcare system. Obesity produces a host of co-morbidities: diabetes, hypertension, joint disease, sleep apnea and heart disease, to name a few. A good chance exists, researchers project, that by 2020...

ATLANTA - Of the more than 100 providers who supplied custom wheelchairs before Georgia Medicaid began mandating credentialing several years ago, only 25 remained in December, according to a state official. "I'm really proud of (the requirements)," said Patricia Ross, program manager with the Georgia Department of Community Health. "I believe fraud and abuse will be cut to almost zero, because the providers that we suspect are doing that are going to stand out like sore thumbs. It's already happening." The...

LONGMONT, Colo. - Here is Sunrise Medical's new freight policy that took effect of Jan. 9, 2006: - All orders (parts and products) placed on the company's Web site (www.sunrisemedical.com) or via electronic data interface (EDI), regardless of order amount, will receive free freight. Previously, the company charged a $10 freight charge for Web orders under $100. Not only is Web ordering quicker, it cuts down on mistakes. "It is almost a seamless paper process," said Bob Von Kaenel, vice president...

BALTIMORE - The growth in healthcare spending in the United States slowed for the second straight year in 2004, according to a report released last month by CMS. Spending in 2004 rose 7.9%, slower than the 8.2% growth in 2003 and 9.1% growth in 2002. The report was published in the journal Health Affairs. It shows that healthcare spending was $1.9 trillion in 2004, or $6,280 per person. It includes data through 2004, the most recent year for which actual numbers are available. The share of the nation's...