Archive: October 2014
Convaid donates for a cause
October 31, 2014HME News Staff
TORRANCE, Calif. - Convaid recently donated a wheelchair to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) Southern California Chapter's Strollathon. The California-based manufacturer, which specializes in lightweight, compact-folding and adaptive-assisted wheelchairs, has been partnering with the South Southern California Chapter for more than a decade. “This partnership has directly contributed to the success of our event and put smiles on the faces of so many of our children and their...
OMHA hearing frustrates
October 31, 2014HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) held a hearing last week on the ongoing backlog of audits and efforts to address the problem, but industry stakeholders who attended said it was extremely frustrating. “They seem to think the providers need to be educated on documentation,” said Seth Johnson, vice president of government relations for Pride Mobility. “The audit process is broken.” It was clear during the meeting that real-time, practical solutions...
Providers monitor Ebola crisis
October 31, 2014Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine - Although Ebola scares are in the headlines every day, providers say they aren't seeing much of that on the ground.“We're seeing a small amount of consumer panic buying, people trying to get extra gloves or gowns, but not the way we did with SARs and other things,” said Alan Grogan, president of Grogan's Healthcare Supply in Lexington, Ky. “At the institutional level, we are seeing people review the items that they have been buying for many years that are old technology...
AAHomecare seeks 'megaphone' status
October 31, 2014Tracy Orzel
WASHINGTON - When Beth Ludwick designed AAHomecare's new app, she designed it for HME stakeholders, as well as herself.“I included exactly what I need to see in the morning,” said Ludwick, senior director of communications for AAHomecare. “I'm not here to push news and content on people.”The free app features breaking news and member alerts from AAHomecare, a group chat wall, AAHomecare's Twitter feed and the latest from industry publications.“We're a whole different...
Bonjour! Je m'appelle Tracy
October 31, 2014Tracy Orzel
Jumping into the HME industry is a lot like learning a new language in the native-speaking country. In the beginning, people are frustrated with you, there's a lot of blank stares, you're constantly asking others to repeat themselves and you're almost positive they think you're addled. Which you are.
About two months ago I set it in my head that I was going to learn French. So I did what any good student does: I bought all the dictionaries, CDs and software and expected to learn through osmosis....
In brief: OMHA hearing frustrates, Burmans gets nod
October 31, 2014HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) held a hearing last week on the ongoing backlog of audits and efforts to address the problem, but industry stakeholders who attended said it was extremely frustrating. “They seem to think the providers need to be educated on documentation,” said Seth Johnson, vice president of government relations for Pride Mobility. “The audit process is broken.” It was clear during the meeting that real-time, practical solutions...
3B Medical, CMB Solutions partner
October 31, 2014HME News Staff
INDIANAPOLIS and LAKE WALES, Fla. - CPAP manufacturer 3B Medical and patient contact compliance management software company CMB Solutions have formed a strategic partnership, the two companies announced today. 3B's iCode Connect, a cloud-based patient management system, will be integrated with CMB's own cloud-based system to provide an automated and efficient platform and make it easier for HME providers to process orders, according to a press release.
On air with provider Jeff Franklin
October 31, 2014Tracy Orzel
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Provider Jeff Franklin loves to talk shop and recently found a home on 98.9 The Answer's “All Things Health” to do just that. After giving an interview on 98.9's sister station in March, Franklin, owner of three 101 Mobility stores in Ohio and Southeast Michigan, was offered his own platform on the first Sunday of every month to educate the public on trends within the aging-in-place movement.“I am very passionate about what we do and I love communicating...
Liberty positions itself for sale
October 31, 2014Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - A bankruptcy judge has approved a stalking horse bid for the assets of Liberty Medical.Liberty, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2013, has proposed a sale of the majority of its assets in a stalking horse auction with a minimum bid of $46.5 million—$13 million in cash and $33.5 million in assumed liabilities—according to court documents. If there are competing bids, an auction would take place Nov. 7.“This is an ideal situation...
Tranquility transforms its image
October 30, 2014HME News Staff
DUNBRIDGE, Ohio - Principle Business Enterprises debuted a new logo and website, and updated its retail packaging for its Tranquility Premium Protection brand. “These innovative undertakings are a sign of an exciting future for the Tranquility brand. Our goal is to better tell the story of how our Tranquility Incontinence Products uplift the quality of life through unmatched protection,” says Tim Philpott, director of marketing at Principle Business Enterprises. The new website features...