Archive: April 2019

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Mobius Mobility is in the process of re-launching the iBOT Personal Mobility Device, an electric wheelchair that can climb stairs, according to the Union Leader. The company is moving into a building here owned by Dean Kamen, who worked with Johnson & Johnson to develop the iBOT 20 years ago, to assemble the devices and train customers on how to use them. In addition to climbing stairs, the iBOT allows users to sit up to make eye contract with others, making it a good fit for people...

PLANO, Texas - Belluscura has reached its fundraising goal for its portable oxygen concentrator, the X-PLO2R. The company, part of the portfolio of Tekcapital Plc, a U.K. intellectual property investment group, has raised 500,000 pounds. “We are delighted to see that Belluscura has reached its crowdfunding target of 500,000 pounds to help complete the regulatory clearance and launch of their new X-PLOR portable oxygen concentrator later this year,” said Dr. Clifford Gross, chairman of...

The North Dakota House of Representatives and Senate have passed H.B. 1115, a bill that prevents the Medicaid program from requiring “prior authorization, additional documentation not required by Medicare or additional prescription requirements of DME and supplies to process a claim for Medicaid-eligible individuals who are also eligible for Medicare if any item has been paid by Medicare, unless the item is not covered by Medicaid,” according to MAMES. The legislature passed the bill...

WASHINGTON - Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, on April 29 introduced a bill to provide relief for complex rehab wheelchairs and accessories, according to NCART.S. 1223 would exempt complex rehab manual and power wheelchairs and any wheelchair accessory, cushion or back when furnished in connection with a wheelchair from Medicare competitive bidding pricing. Casey and Portman introduced a similar bill in the last congressional session.Earlier in April, Reps. John Larson, D-Conn., and...

A. Aside from an initial Medicare inspection, from time to time the National Supplier Clearinghouse can visit any DME provider to check in on you.  Instead of scrambling for the documents, we suggest having a Medicare inspection file handy with all documents needed. This way, even if the key employees are not there, they will have all the documents in one place and the inspection will run smoothly.Here are the documents the investigator will ask for:� State sales tax permit� Pharmacy license...

Q. Where is time best spent on social media?  A. Social media created the opportunity for virtual relationships and increased touch points directly with a potential customer base. The customer and how they're serviced is leading that digital revolution. Consider that with every dollar invested into customer service, on average, it pays a three-fold return. Create Brand Loyalty More than half of consumers state that they're more brand loyal to companies that “get them”...

A. You don't want to wait until a referral source asks the inevitable question of when you are going to retire. In small to medium sized companies, clients often associate their experience with the CEO. Especially when the CEO is the founder, it is realistic to expect a referral source to want to know about any upcoming plans to switch leaders at the top. Ensure that the core management group of your company is aligned with your plans before unveiling them to the outside community. How is the new...

A. When did you last check your HME company's metrics?This task might be last on your list (and with good reason): the day-to-day challenges of patient care and billing processes probably occupy your mind. You might focus on whatever it takes to keep the lights on.Tracking too many or too few metrics (or none at all) is more common among HME providers than you might think. Making the space to track the right HME metrics is easier than you might think, too.Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Enter key...

Recently, Medicare determined to accept e-prescribed orders for inexpensive or otherwise routinely purchased DME. Historically, Medicare has required fax, pen and ink, or electronically maintained images of signed orders.However, e-prescribing offers a confidential, secure, accurate and error-free method of communicating doctors' orders. Moreover, e-prescribing has been widely adopted by physicians. By April 2014, fully 70% of physicians were e-prescribing, using an electronic health records network...

As I am dealing with the 10th warranty issue for power chairs this month, I feel the need to express something that has bothered me for years. I should also add that we are a one location, small company with big dreams, so 10 warranty issues in one month is a lot.I am an ATP that has been serving my client base for years, and I am talking back when the power chairs were belt drive and tilt-in-space was a futuristic dream.My issue is this: As an industry why are we still taking it on the chin for...