Editor’s Inbox

Room with a View

[Regarding the Dallas power wheelchair scheme (“Texas Déjà Vu,” March 2004)], it turns out I actually sold a case of bedpans to one of the defendants. When I visited him, I couldn’t figure out why he was doing so much mobility business out of a lousy, windowless office in a cheap, shared office suite in an awful location. At least in prison, he’ll get a window!
— Janet White, Rehab Exchange/DME Depot LLC, Richardson, Texas

Not a Dirty Word

As an industry, we need to start standing tough when it comes to reimbursement issues. We are quick to say how much our services are worth when we are talking to payers and legislators, then we accept contracts that don’t even cover our costs. Are we not contradicting ourselves when we do these things?

The industry needs to be united when its members speak. We’ve made great strides toward that goal, but we still have a long way to go. If we are willing to accept payment at or below cost, we have instantly degraded what we do as an industry.

Profit is not a bad word. Yes, there are some bad apples in our industry. They should be dealt with swiftly. On the other hand, I have been in the business for almost 30 years, and the majority of people I meet are in it because they want to help others. I feel privileged to know those who still have that vision no matter what else is thrown at us.
— Gary Hosfelt, director, Arensberg Medical Equipment Co., Newark, Ohio

24/7

Your pontification that [the American Association for Homecare] is our industry town meeting place is flawed (“Shelly Sez,” January 2004). Since the days of HIDA (Health Industry Distributors Association), no organization anywhere has been successful in serving this marketplace. We need real leaders, not hospital-based DME people. We need people who own their own companies and live and die by their [own] decisions. No one can relate the issues better than those of us who [walk the walk] every day, 365 days a year.
— Vince Destigter, owner, Western Health Care, Jackson, Calif.

Note: In 2000, HIDA merged with the National Association for Medical Equipment Services (NAMES) and the Home Health Services and Staffing Association (HHSSA) to form AAHomecare.

New Neighbors

Hmmmm, HME goes Wal-Mart (HomeCare Monday, March 15, 2004). Well, there goes the neighborhood ….
— Bill Baker, president, Rx02 Inc., Tucson, Ariz.

E-mail your letters to Editor-in-Chief Gail Walker at [email protected]