Archive: December 2018

WASHINGTON - The window for the Senate to pass accessories relief is “narrowing” rapidly.Amidst a government shutdown, the Senate returned to session at 4 p.m. Thursday for only a few minutes and took no action on H.R. 7217 or any other legislation. It will reconvene on Monday at 10 a.m., before the 115th Congress comes to a close, according to industry stakeholders.“So the legislative session remains open and we will see what progress is made between now and then on the shutdown...

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare is looking to add to its payer relations team. The association is recruiting a director of payer relations to join Laura Williard, vice president of payer relations. “As enrollment in Medicaid programs and in Medicare Advantage plans continues to rise, AAHomecare and our state association partners have been working non-stop to maintain sustainable reimbursement rates and to educate state legislators, regulators and plan administrators on the value of HME to their constituents,”...

Delta Medical has opened a branch in Harrison, Ark., according to the Harrison Daily Times. The company held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the branch with the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 18. The branch provides a variety of DME, plus an infusion pharmacy. Delta Medical was established in 2006, with the goal of serving patients in rural communities. It also has branches in Fayetteville (two branches), Batesville, Jonesboro, Rogers, Cave City, Fort Smith, Mountain Home and West Memphis�Phoenix...

LUBBOCK, Texas - NRRTS is accepting nominations for the following awards: Leadership Award, Distinguished Service Award, Consumer Advocate of the Year and Simon Margolis Fellow. For requirements and to submit letters of nomination, email Weesie Walker, executive director of NRRTS, at wwalker@nrrts.org. Nominations must be received by midnight on Feb. 28. The winners of the awards will be presented at the 35th International Seating Symposium, March 18-22 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center...

SAN CAROLS, Calif. - WHILL, a manufacturer of personal electric vehicles (PEVs), will introduce and demonstrate the WHILL Autonomous Drive at the Consumer Electronics Show, Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas. “The WHILL Autonomous Drive PEV will be common in future public settings,” said Satoshi Sugie, co-founder and CEO of WHILL. “In the not-so-distant future, a user who has difficulty walking will merely 'summon' the vehicle. The technology will allow even first-time operators to experience...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A new partnership between PlayMaker Health and WellSky combines EHR and business development data with market data and customer relationship management tools. “As we've worked with providers over the past 10 years, we know providers need a fully integrated growth solution that offers visibility across their market, their referral sources and their sales team, all in one place,” said John Griscavage, CEO of PlayMaker. “Our partnership with WellSky allows us to...

PHOENIX - Vantage Mobility International, a manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vehicles, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Revability, a division of REV Group. Revability designs and manufacturers wheelchair accessible vehicles for commercial and personal use, giving VMI a more diversified product line. “This is an important move as our organization continues to take steps to satisfy the needs of our retail and commercial customers,” said Mark Shaughnessy, CEO of VMI. The...

Mary Ellen Buning, president of RESNA's board of directors, joined a range of experts in London to serve as a judge for Toyota Mobility Foundation's “Mobility Unlimited Challenge.” The $4 million challenge seeks to support “radical improvements in the mobility and independence of people with lower-limb paralysis through smarter assistive technology.” Five finalists will be announced in January with each receiving a $500,000 development grant. One winning team will be announced...

YARMOUTH, Maine - Despite the large number of unknowns for the year ahead, the majority of respondents to a recent HME Newspoll say they're forging ahead with plans to grow their businesses.Expanding their footprint topped the list of priorities for 2019 for 26% of respondents.“We are going to be adding product lines and getting into new areas,” wrote one respondent.Others say they'll grow by delving further into other payer markets.“Our main goal continues to be to increase hospice,...

HARTFORD, Conn. - HME provider complaints with CareCentrix came to a head recently, when The MED Group reportedly cancelled its payer agreement with the company.Those complaints include improperly denied claims, low reimbursement and poor customer service.“I've been doing this for 30 years,” said one provider who asked not to be named. “They are difficult to work with and they have so many layers in place that you cannot talk to people if you call there.”CareCentrix manages...