Archive: September 2008

While the national political spotlight shines on this year's historic presidential campaign, HME industry leaders say district races across the country are where providers will reap the biggest political gains. “Regardless of who wins the White House, the impact for the industry is going to be in the House and Senate,” said John Gallagher, vice president of government relations for The VGM Group. Going into the elections, Democrats hold majorities in both the House (236 to 199) and...

Pride Mobility Products President Dan Meuser is leaving the company after 20 years to pursue a career in public service, the company announced in August. Meuser joined the manufacturer in 1988. Meuser took a leave of absence last fall to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In April, he lost in the primary, 52% to 48%. Meuser will maintain his shareholder position and will continue to hold a seat on the company's board of directors...The VGM Group named James Phillips COO, the organization...

PITTSBURGH--The University of Pittsburgh and AAHomecare's Rehab and Assistive Technology Council (RATC) made their May 29 workshop on power wheelchair documentation available online in August. For $129, providers can view the four-hour workshop, which includes presentations by Dr. Paul Hughes, the medical director for Jurisdiction A; and Dr. Brad Dicianno, the chief medical director for UPitt's Center for Assistive Technology. The workshop gives providers the tools they need to educate physicians...

BALTIMORE--Physicians and other medical professionals bestowed numerous thanks on CMS officials during an Aug. 18 Open Door Forum. The reason: Under an addition to the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), they don't have to get accredited. HME providers must still become accredited by Sept. 30, 2009. A subparagraph added to MIPPA states that “eligible professionals and other persons are exempt from meeting the September 30, 2009, accreditation deadline until CMS determines...

Q. What is the best way to organize our reimbursement department to effectively bill and collect our accounts receivables? A. Reimbursement departments are typically organized where everyone is working on a little of everything and no one has a single focus. The end result is usually lagging cash flow and increased accounts receivables. To avoid this, you should have a minimum of two divisions within your department: billing and collections. The billing division's focus should be on ensuring clean...

YARMOUTH, Maine--An all-star team of the HME industry's best providers and most respected consultants have joined forces to help the HME Exposition & Conference create an education program second to none. The Expo's education committee includes industry consultants Jane Wilkinson-Bunch, president/CEO Jane's Healthcare Consulting; Ty Bello, president, Team@Work; Sarah Hanna, vice president, ECS Billing & Consulting; and Lisa Bargmann, president/CEO Bargmann Management (dba HCS). Providers on the...

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio--With only a handful of carriers offering tailored coverage to HME providers, Cailor Fleming Insurance seeks to make inroads into the industry. Cailor Fleming has been making the rounds at state association meetings this year to educate providers about the importance of both product and professional liability coverage and, hopefully, pick up some business along the way. It hit Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania in 2008. “We want to do way, way more next year,” said Bill...

PITTSBURGH - Pennsylvania Medicaid in August unveiled a plan to offer Medicaid auditors financial incentives to recover overpayments, something industry leaders liken to creating “bounty hunters.” Details are sketchy so far but under incentive-based programs, auditors typically earn a percentage based on what they recover. Creating a monetary bonus system could encourage overzealous auditing, fears John Shirvinksy, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Medical Equipment...

MINNEAPOLIS--A recent Medicare policy change eliminates the mandatory re-use of intermittent catheters for beneficiaries, a change that could ultimately save the healthcare system billions of dollars. Effective April 1, 2008, Medicare allows a new catheter for each episode of approved catheterization; covers all single-use catheters; and eliminates the need to prove history of infection. “For years it's been a battle,” said Dave Doubek, president of Doubek Medical Supply in Alsip, Ill....

Q. What should I expect to happen during my unannounced survey, and how long will it take? A. The amount of time it takes to conduct a survey is based on company size, the number of branches operating and the services/products being accredited for. The inspection will take place unannounced, with the surveyor identifying himself and asking for your accreditation contact person. If that contact person is not available, the survey will continue as scheduled, so be sure there are other associates...