Archive: November 2016

EXETER, Pa. - Pride Mobility Products has added another tool to the toolbox of retail providers. The company announced Nov. 29 that it can now help providers arrange financing for their customers through Monterey Financial Services and Care Credit. “We've heard from both Pride retailers and consumers that consumer financing outlets are a necessity in this industry and would provide opportunities for business growth for retail products,” said Julie Pello, general manager of business development,...

ELYRIA, Ohio - Invacare has a new board member: Susan Alexander, who has served as the executive vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary for Biogen, a pharmaceutical company, since December 2011. She has more than 35 years of corporate legal experience, both from private law and general counsel positions in global med-tech, software and manufacturing companies. Alexander brings strong cross-functional legal, regulatory and senior management expertise to the board, Invacare...

TUCSON, Ariz. - Vitalistics, an independent diagnostic testing facility, has opened to provide overnight pulse oximetry and home sleep testing services. Vitalistics has its own SaaS software platform, ODIE, to provide a streamlined workflow, regulatory compliance and the latest technologies. “It is quick, easy and economical to get started with, simple to use, and leverages the best expertise and technology in the industry,” said Jeff Wurgler, CEO in a press release. Wurgler is the former...

MINNEAPOLIS - Coloplast, which has its U.S. headquarters here but is based in Denmark, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Coral Springs, Fla.-based Comfort Medical for $160 million in cash, the company announced Nov. 30.The deal, if completed and approved by authorities, combines a manufacturer of ostomy, urology, continence and wound care supplies with a provider of those supplies.“The acquisition of Comfort Medical fits very well into our overall consumer ambition for Coloplast...

WASHINGTON - A bill that requires Veterans Affairs to establish quality and safety standards for adaptive equipment and vehicles is headed to the president's desk for his signature.The House of Representatives on Nov. 29 agreed to pass an amended version of the Veterans Mobility Safety Act previously passed by the Senate. The amended version of the bill allows independent providers to continue performing home installations and deliveries, and ensures a fair certification process.“We have...

After years of challenges, are there any signs that funding medically-necessary, quality-of-life complex rehab technology (CRT) can advance coverage and payment policies to reflect advancements in technology?Just over a year ago, Pride Mobility Products and Quantum Rehab launched an ambitious product that challenged funding entities based on the increased functionality it brought to complex rehab power wheelchairs. Consumer inspired, it was a power adjustable seat height system. Specifically, it...

A. Keeping your store looking good is so important and it doesn't have to cost much. If you ever shop at Costco, you'll notice that they are continuously moving merchandise around. Giving their customers a new look on a regular basis provides Costco with the ability to regularly force their customers to pay attention to product offerings. This rotation policy allows Costco to look fresh at a very low cost.For your HME store, consider moving entire departments a few times a year.  (This is easier...

A. One of the most common and often misunderstood potential hazards in payer contracts is the “lesser of billed charges” language found in almost all contracts. This language is usually worded like this: “Health insurance company will pay provider the lesser of its billed charges or its payer contracted rates for each code's reimbursement.” What does this mean exactly?It means that, for example, if your payer-contracted rate at 100%, including patient co-payment, is $110 for...

Q. Do my financial books really matter to a buyer? Won't the buyer just produce their own set of financials?A. The quality of your financials is so important. For most businesses, financials are the first thing potential buyers look at after a thumbnail outline of the nature of the business and whether or not it is a going concern. If your results are poor, that is one matter, but often the bigger issue is whether or not the results make sense from the financials that are presented.Your financials...

A. A supplier that disagrees with a Qualified Independent Contractor's reconsideration decision is entitled to a hearing before an administrative law judge. But, an ALJ will not review new evidence—evidence that was not presented during previous levels of appeal without the supplier presenting “good cause.” The ALJ will not review any new evidence unless that evidence was unavailable or unknown at the time of the determination.Oftentimes, suppliers rely on the documentation submitted...