Rip Van Winkle? Not so much
By Liz Beaulieu, Editor
Updated Tue December 30, 2014
You'd think, after taking a three-month maternity leave, that I'd I feel a little bit more Rip Van Winkle about the HME industry.
But as I peruse the issues that Managing Editor Theresa Flaherty so skillfully got out the door while I was out, I can't say that I feel like I've missed very much.
Competitive bidding.
Bundling.
Audits.
Consolidation.
Repeat.
The good news: I'm still pretty up to date on what's going on in the HME industry.
The bad news: There hasn't been much in the way of resolutions to the industry's issues.
But what's a new year good for if not optimism, I say.
Take competitive bidding. While the program has been part of the industry's lexicon for decades, I feel like 2014 was a year of, if not resolutions, definitely progress. For the first time, the industry succeeded in getting two senators to introduce a bill that would modify the program. The industry has had a number of such bills in the House, but never in the Senate.
It was also a first for a bill that would reform the audit program.
These bills will all need to be reintroduced in 2015, yes, but because of the progress made in 2014, the industry won't necessarily be starting over.
Of course, I can't guarantee 2015 will be any different than any other year, but I can guarantee that Theresa, Associate Editor Tracy Orzel and I will be following the industry's progress every step of the way.
Here's to a successful and prosperous 2015.
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