Harbinger of Things to Come

30 years ago

In July’s issue of HomeCare, Ascher Kauffman, then chairman of the Home Health Care Certification Board, predicted that “the long-talked about accreditation program for DME dealers should begin before the end of this year.”

At the time, accreditation was being proposed as a three-step process, including the successful completion of a seminar series, the certification of home health facilities and completion of a home-study program for HME employees — a far cry from CMS’ mandatory program today under which all providers must be accredited by an approved accrediting body no later than Sept. 30, 2009.

In another harbinger of what was to become an industry mantra over the next three decades, the magazine reported providers were anticipating a meeting with the Senate Small Business Committee to discuss “problems with Medicare or program insurance carriers.”

Also of note:

• Ronald Reagan is featured as the keynote speaker for the American Surgical Trade Association convention.
• Microlert, an electronic transmitter which could send signals to call for emergency help from up to 300 feet away, is introduced as a means to “relieve anxiety” for elderly persons who are left alone.

20 years ago

July of 1988 brought HomeCare‘s annual “Product Directory and Buyers’ Guide,” nearly 200 pages of product information folded into the magazine. With contacts for manufacturers, distributors, service companies and consultants, product location and year-round buying became easier in an instant.

The HomeCare Buyers’ Guide continues today as the industry’s most comprehensive product resource, now published as a separate directory each year.

Also of note:

• Congress decides to support Medicare reimbursement for home I.V. therapy. According to a HomeCare report, the home I.V. market was expected to reach $624.9 million by 1990, just in time for the government’s reimbursement to begin on Jan. 1 of that year.

10 years ago

How many facts does your business need to know in order to succeed? Exactly 1,050 according to our cover story in July 1998. Among the many facts and figures about HME providers’ business at the time:

• The bulk of revenues — 47 percent — derives from respiratory products and services, with another 23 percent from “HME products.”
• The bulk of payments — 39 percent — comes from Medicare.

That last figure hasn’t changed much in the past 10 years, with HomeCare‘s most recent survey showing Medicare as most providers’ top payer at 41 percent.

Also of note:

• The magazine’s report on Polk County, Fla., named the first demonstration site for competitive bidding, notes the county, southwest of Orlando, has a population of 92,000 Medicare beneficiaries, high expenditures per Medicare enrollee for equipment and a large number of providers serving the area.