Medtrade Highlights: People and Products

ATLANTA (October 17, 2018)—Renewed energy filled the aisles of #Medtrade18 in Atlanta this week, and providers gathered in great numbers for sessions focused on a variety of topics, one of the tops competitive bidding.

Much will change come January 1, 2019, with the 24 months beyond deemed the “gap period” that will precede another round of competitive bidding in January 2021. After December 31, 2018, competitive bidding will “go away,” and any willing provider will be able to jump into (or back into) the Medicare market. Read what the legal eagles have to say about the gap period.

AAHomecare’s senior leadership team kicked off Tuesday’s programming at Medtrade 2018 by recounting significant gains on Capitol Hill and CMS, as well as wins and progress in payer relations. Tom Ryan, AAHomecare’s president and CEO gave an overview of the hard-won provisions in this year’s HME-related Interim Final Rule (IFR) and the ESRD/DMEPOS Proposed Rule that awaits final approval at CMS and OMB. 

Between the ESRD/DMEPOS rule and the IFR, the HME community could see significant Medicare reimbursement gains flowing back into the industry—the IFR alone representing $360 million, according to AAHomecare.

Industry advocate and leader Regina Gillispie, president and owner of West Virginia-based Best Home Medical, was honored as the recipient of the 2018 Van Miller Homecare Champion Award. This award recognizes and honors AAHomecare members for outstanding service to the HME community. Pictured above, from left, Steve Ackerman, Gillispie and Tom Ryan—photo courtesy of AAHomecare.

Gillispie has built strong relationships and earned a great deal of credibility for the HME sector on Capitol Hill as she has consistently made sure her state is well-represented. In addition to her Congressional work, Gillispie has been at the forefront of state-level policy wins, helping to convince West Virginia Medicaid to mandate that MCOs honor the timeframe of current authorizations for patients under previous MCO plans, and she has had a leadership role in getting the state to increase oxygen reimbursement rates, among other credits.

Home medical equipment industry champions say new PTAN billing numbers are creeping up—one of a few signals that the industry has hit bottom and things are finally getting better. The number of people pining for the good old days are growing quieter, and fresh ideas for how to meet burgeoning demand are standing out.

A wide variety of products, some familiar and some new to Medtrade, were of interest, and providers came from across the country to take a look.

Above, Sara Pettit (left) and Terrie Davis of Finnegan Health Services in Little Rock, Arkansas

Above, Frank Owusu of FNL Medical Supply in Fords, New Jersey (left) and Reggie Fullwood of Jackson Medical Supply in Pearl, Mississippi—catching up after meeting at a previous Medtrade

Above, from left, Greg McGough of XMED Oxygen and Medical Supply in Texas, Randy Hunter of Transcend Medical in Alabama, Evan McGill of Therafirm, Josh Miller of Transcend Medical in Alabama, and Todd McLaughlin of Therafirm—at VGM’s Rise and Retail breakfast

Above, Pride Mobility introduced a much expanded line of VivaLift! Power Recliners, featuring more sizes and styles. Pride also debuted The Jazzy Air 2 and Jazzy Select 6 2.0. The Jazzy Air 2 elevates up to 12 inches in 11 seconds. The Jazzy Select 6 2.0 has the same features as its predecessor but is more modern and comfortable.

Above, part of Special Orthotic Services (SOS) seating line from Drive—the Miko 1 stroller. Other products not pictured include the P Pod and the Winzelite.

Above, Juliana Cifuentes of Stabilized Steps LLC. In June 2018, the company announced new focus on indoor use of the product.

—Liz Carey