Archive: January 2009
Recruiting
January 31, 2009HME News Staff
Q. How do we retain new employees?
A. It's simple: teamwork. But before we get to that, let's talk about why it's so important to retain new employees.
Just examine the cost of someone quitting. As an example, let's use a medical biller who gets paid $12 per hour. If that person quits after only four months, you've paid $8,320 in base salary. Add to that these costs: finding the person in the first place (about $750 for newspaper and online ads); your time preparing, qualifying and interviewing the...
Nurse launches HME Web site
January 31, 2009HME News Staff
EAST GREENWICH, R.I.--Registered nurse Joshua Hatfield is on a one-man mission to make HME and supplies more accessible for consumers with little or no health insurance. Hatfield launched DirectBuyMedical.com in October. The Web site offers more than 12,000 products from brand name manufacturers, including DME, diabetes supplies and respiratory products.
Medtrade Spring helps providers thrive
January 31, 2009HME News Staff
LAS VEGAS--It may be another Medtrade Spring in Las Vegas, but show organizers realize times have changed.
That's why they're giving cash-strapped attendees the opportunity to register for the show for $99 until Feb. 25. That gives them access to dozens of conference sessions and the show floor.
“We feel that our responsibility to the HME industry is to ensure providers receive both critical education and interaction with the leading manufacturers, so we decided to make attending Medtrade Spring...
Congressman urges consumer action
January 31, 2009HME News Staff
WEST SENECA, N.Y.--Provider Jim Travis invited Congressman Brian Higgins, D-N.Y., to view his operation in December. Travis and Higgins toured the main office and participated in a conference call about the 36-month oxygen cap and the 9.5% nationwide reimbursement cut with other industry stakeholders. Congress will not take action unless beneficiaries get involved, Higgins said, according to a release.
Medtronic expands sleep apnea arsenal
January 31, 2009HME News Staff
MINNEAPOLIS--Medtronic recently acquired a product line of surgical devices to treat obstructive sleep apnea from InflueENT Medical, a privately held company in New Hampshire. InfluENT manufactures Repose, a small titanium screw that's inserted into the back of the jaw. Two permanent sutures that have been fused onto the screw are then “internalized” inside the tongue so patients don't notice them when they're awake. The sutures are meant to stop the tongue from collapsing backward during...
Surety bond rule: VGM, AAH offer help
January 31, 2009HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa, and ARLINGTON, Va.--The VGM Group and AAHomecare in January announced that they offer “bond solutions” for providers. A recently released final rule requires Medicare providers to obtain $50,000 surety bonds by Oct. 2. VGM also offers a hotline: 866-497-0472.
Letters to the editor:
January 31, 2009HME News Staff
In response to the blog titled “What Gives?”: I am also finding it hard to believe that so few comments about the oxygen cap have been posted. I say “posted” because my comments have yet to appear on the Web site. I have no idea why, but two possibilities come to mind: There may be a glitch in their system or they have been inundated with so many responses that they are overwhelmed. Either way, anyone who views the comments would come to the conclusion that it is a subject...
Neb-med market shrinks
January 31, 2009HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine--Neb-med providers left the market in droves in 2008, pushed out by declining Medicare reimbursement, and industry sources expect more of the same in 2009.
“Unless there is a change (in policy), we are going to see continuous consolidation in the market,” said Mickey Letson, president of Decatur, Ala.-based Letco Companies.
Several large providers threw in the towel in 2008. In August, Independence Home Pharmacy, which had about 20,000 patients, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy....
One product, two allowables
January 31, 2009HME News Staff
Despite the doom and gloom surrounding the 9.5% cut for power wheelchairs, rehab providers may find a bright spot in the 5% increase for manual wheelchairs, particularly when it comes to related seating and accessories.
“These days we'll take every penny that gets thrown in our direction because of the nickels and dimes they're taking away from us,” said Joel Holland, president of Holland Medical in Nashville.
Congress delayed national competitive bidding in July in exchange for a 9.5%...
PRO2 makes 'culture change'
January 31, 2009HME News Staff
CINCINNATI--PRO2 Respiratory has no plans to curtail its focus on quality clinical care - even if it is a little more expensive.
Instead of reducing its workforce of respiratory therapists (RTs), the provider is zeroing in on efficiencies throughout its system to offset a 36-month oxygen cap and a 9.5% nationwide reimbursement cut on CPAP and other DME, says Nancy Archdeacon.
“I'm still scratching my head with all the legislative changes,” said Archdeacon, founding partner. “I don't...