Archive: September 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. - Rotech Healthcare has completed its financial restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 protection, the company announced Sept. 27. The HME provider has reduced outstanding debt by more than $300 million and reduced annual cash interest expense from $60 million to less than $20 million, according to a news release. “With the financial restructuring behind us, we have the increased financial flexibility which we believe will allow us to compete aggressively in today's home medical...

LONDON - The infusion therapy device market in Europe, which passed 505 million euros in 2012, is expected to continue its stable growth, according to a new study by iData Research. Released Sept. 26, the report says a growing elderly population and a corresponding rise in diseases that are treated with infusion therapy are driving the growth. Infusion devices include infusion pumps, needleless connectors and intravenous sets, the report says.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - With a new website, the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) is keeping stakeholders up-to-date with continuing education information and social media feeds, the board announced in a Sept. 30 news release. Certified providers and accredited facility owners can also use the website to manage their accounts. “The new website is simply another way BOC serves its facilities and certificants by making information accessible and putting the power at our fingertips,”...

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - A bankruptcy court judge says The Scooter Store may sell its inventory under certain conditions, the San Antonio Express-News reports. The company may sell assets worth less than $25,000 without notice and those worth between $25,000 and $100,000 with notice, but it must seek court approval before selling assets worth more than $100,000, the newspaper reports. The power wheelchair and scooter provider filed for bankruptcy in April in the wake of a federal raid on its headquarters...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Breathe has launched, BreatheLink, an oximetry downloading system that sends overnight test data straight to a patient's DME provider, it announced Sept. 23. By remotely sending oximetry results to the provider, BreatheLink can reduce the number of delivery trips by as much as 50%, according to Breathe, an independent diagnostic testing facility. “DME providers are looking for ways to cut operational expenses and BreatheLink plays a significant role in reducing unnecessary...

CHICAGO - New Med Supplies offers patients and medical professionals an online store where they can purchase a wide variety of medical supplies from major manufacturers. The company hopes to make the shopping experience fast and simple, while providing high-quality supplies, according to a Sept. 25 news release.

YARMOUTH, Maine - Stakeholders expect the downfall of The Scooter Store to have several lasting effects on the power mobility industry.The Scooter Store announced Sept. 13 that it has been cut out of Rounds 1 and 2 of competitive bidding, and will close for good in the coming weeks.Decreased accessAmong the consequences of the closure, and the controversy and investigation surrounding it: Access to power wheelchairs will likely take a hit, providers say.“I suspect utilization will go down dramatically,”...

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare has dropped its bid to stop competitive bidding in the courts. The association, along with Havre de Grace, Md.-based Home Mediservice, filed a lawsuit in June that argued CMS violated its own rules by awarding Round 2 contracts to providers that didn't meet licensure requirements. “Based on the signals that we've received from the court and the advice of legal counsel, it didn't appear that we would see any different outcome,” said Tom Ryan, president...

ST. PAUL, Minn. - It may be only one Medicare Advantage plan in one state, but it's still a development that's dropping jaws in the HME industry. Two providers in Minnesota have notified the Midwest Association of Medical Equipment Services (MAMES) that they have received a letter from a Medicare Advantage plan in the state that says it's only doing business with competitive bidding contract suppliers. “We're trying to get them to tell us their rationale,” said Rose...

YARMOUTH, Maine - Is retail the solution for HME providers feeling the squeeze from reduced Medicare reimbursement? It depends who you ask.The vast majority (86%) of the 77 respondents to a recent HME NewsPoll say they have retail locations. But when asked how successful those operations are, respondents were split, with 57% saying retail is living up to their expectations and 43% saying it's not.Some respondents said retailing products from a storefront provides a new revenue stream, helping providers...