Tag: Home Medical Equipment

YARMOUTH, Maine – A majority of HME providers have expanded the number of brands they carry in the past year due to ongoing supply chain issues and price increases, according to a recent HME Newspoll.  Nearly 76% of respondents say they now carry more brands than they used to.  “While efficiency is better with fewer brands, I’ve found it more important, especially in the past year, to ensure having multiple backup brands ready at a moment’s notice,” wrote...

BELLEVUE, Wash. – Bellevue Healthcare in June opened its largest location yet.   The 10,000-square-foot location in Burlington, Wash., focuses on retail but also serves as a distribution hub for servicing some of the more remote parts of the state, including the San Juan Islands, says Joel Gallion, president.  “We have stores in Everett and Bellingham, and this is in between,” he said. “So, from a logistical standpoint, it’s a good middle ground.”  Also...

After Medtrade West ended today, I walked with Medtrade communications guy and press liaison Gregg Thompson (what IS your actual title, Gregg?) back to the hotel. On the way we talked about the show, which overall had a positive vibe. Very positive. In fact, Gregg was trying to put his finger on why everyone was so damn positive. (Journalists are, by their nature, a suspicious bunch). My personal theory: people that come out to events, be they trade shows or birthday parties for one-year-olds,...

I asked show director York Schwab this morning how his first Medtrade was going and whether such a big undertaking was daunting. Unfortunately, I inadvertently cut off the first part of his video, but to paraphrase, he said it had been a challenge in many ways, with the original date pushed from April to July, and so many unknowns even in recent weeks, as rules and regs keep changing. He gave a lot of credit to Medtrade/Emerald staff for their ability “to pivot.” He loves Phoenix...

ATLANTA – Smart Saver rates are in effect for Medtrade East, scheduled for Oct. 18-20, 2021, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, through July 17. “We are back at our familiar home at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for Medtrade East,” says York Schwab, associate show director. “After a virtual event in 2020, we are happy to be get back to an in-person show and we hope Medtrade East can be a rallying point to inspire the industry and help spark a great...

ORLANDO, Fla. – Rotech Healthcare Holdings has filed for an initial public offering of up to $100 million and plans to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol ROTK.  The company had $534 million in sales for the 12 months ended March 31, 2021.  Rotech Healthcare offers a comprehensive range of home medical equipment and products and services across five core business lines: oxygen, ventilators, sleep therapy, wound care and DME. The company's payer mix includes commercial insurers,...

SPOKANE, Wash. – With scattered power outages and ACs operating at maximum capacity, HME providers in the Pacific Northwest were working overtime to make sure staff, particularly delivery techs, stayed cool and hydrated, and patients were taken care of.  “We’re making sure people are staying hydrated,” said Brandon Whitney, an ATP and customer service team lead for Inland Medical and Rehab in Spokane, Wash. “The delivery...

THEODORE, Ala. – Supreme Medical Fulfillment has launched a new online ordering portal with real-time inventory to help its provider customers better respond to everything from the COVID-19 pandemic to supply chain challenges.  “Some portals will say a product is available or that it’s in stock,” said Colton Mason, senior vice president. “We found providers didn’t want to know that; they wanted to know if we had six or 60. Now when they’re placing...

WASHINGTON – The payer relations team at AAHomecare is working with state and regional associations to pick off attempts by managed care organizations and other insurers to decrease reimbursement for HME.  Stakeholders have a number of bills working their way through state legislatures to protect reimbursement for DME at 100% of the state Medicaid fee schedules. One of those states: New York, where A.5368 is scheduled to go before the Rules Committee before heading to the floor for...

PHOENIX – Medtrade West exhibitors are counting on a flurry of activity from attendees eager to get back to pre-pandemic interaction when the trade show convenes in person July 12-14 in Phoenix.  To be sure, it has been a long hiatus from face-to-face meetings at booths on the show floor, but Medtrade organizers, sponsors and exhibitors believe the time is finally right to get together once again.  “The past 15 months have demonstrated the value of home-based care like...