Editor’s Inbox

You Be the Judge

[On “Federal Judge Criticizes DMERC,” HomeCare Monday, May 16], why is it so easy to get fraudulent payment from Palmetto for artificial limbs that are submitted for payment but not provided while it is so hard to obtain payment for DME like motorized wheelchairs that are provided but not paid? Why is it so easy for fraudulent dealers to extract payment funds but so difficult for legitimate dealers to get paid?
— Elliott Magalnick, VanGuard Medical Industries, former owner of Get Well Shop, Aurora, Colo.

A Caregiver’s Perspective

I am fortunate enough to be married to Jane W. Bunch. On Feb. 12 of this year, she tore her Achilles tendon. This injury, while seemingly minor, was actually a life-altering event. Jane went from hyperspeed to wheelchair-bound in a fraction of a second.

We have both gone through a journey that I hope you never have to take. Hers was one of pain, suffering and humiliation, mine one of caregiver, supporter and male nurse. The injury, while devastating during recovery, actually made us a stronger couple, and we gained a newfound appreciation for what it means to be non-ambulatory. You never notice the lack of accessibility that abounds in our lives every day until you depend on it as we did for over two months — it is virtually non-existent.

Don’t get me wrong; I love my wife and I did not mind a minute taking care of her, but it is a lot of work to care for someone in a wheelchair. Even a trip to the grocery store was a major event.

Jane and I have learned through this experience that we have a long way to go to make this country handicap-accessible. Since ambulation aids are a large part of most HME businesses, we should all work hard to promote accessibility, not only in our businesses but in our communities as well.

Let’s take steps to make life better for those among us who already have a hard enough time getting around. We certainly do not need any additional obstacles to slow us down.
— Kevin Bunch, JB&CS Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

Editor’s Note: We are happy to report that Jane Bunch is now out of her cast and didn’t miss a beat despite her injury. Read more about her personal experience in Jane’s own words in HomeCare’s June issue (“From Heels to Wheels”), archived at www.homecaremag.com, and catch her latest column on page 51.

The Big Fix

In regard to your article “The Big Fix” (HomeCareXtra, Spring 2005), [the government] continues to state that they have the beneficiaries’ best interest in mind; however, it appears they are more interested in cost savings than beneficiary needs.

I refer to a very important issue that everyone continues to sweep under the rug: after-the-sale service. It should be required that the provider personally evaluate the beneficiary’s environment. If you cannot provide service using your own employees, you should not be allowed to deliver the product and get reimbursed by Medicare. This would do away with [any] dealers that drop ship without doing a house assessment [or giving] correct operating and maintenance instructions to beneficiaries.

When competitive bidding is implemented, service will be pushed further from the forefront. The average local dealer will not be able to compete with the large conglomerates. Neighborhoods, communities and, more important, the forgotten beneficiaries will suffer as long-standing, honest businesses close their doors. Those in need will be forced to take what they get as opposed to expecting a higher standard of service.
— Byron Green, Scooters/Wheelchairs Too Inc., Gun Barrel City, Texas