Thank You, FAA

A little more than a year ago, I noted in this column that the Federal Aviation Administration was proposing that patients with portable oxygen devices be allowed to take them on board when flying commercially.

It must have been at least 20 years ago when, working with many friends and colleagues, we started a campaign of letter-writing and communication with the FAA and the nation’s legislators about oxygen patients being allowed to fly. Previously, patients were limited to airlines that provided their own oxygen, and were charged for each leg of the trip. So, if a patient changed planes twice going from the West Coast to the East Coast, a fee was paid three times for the same product normally used. To say the least, this cost often was more than the fare to the patient’s destination.

In the July 18 issue of HomeCare Monday, I found the good news that the proposed rule about the use of certain portable oxygen concentrators on airplanes is now final. According to the Federal Register, the new rule, which took effect last month, should be fully implemented by January 2006. Patients need only bring a physician’s note and enough batteries to power their units in case there are flight delays.

This makes me very proud of all of the efforts by associations, the work of buying groups and the companies and individuals who worked on this problem.

Thank you, FAA. I now feel vindicated; our efforts were not in vain!

‘Pay for Performance’

What a novel idea? It appears to me that to “pay for performance” is a normal and usual business procedure. However, I find that most HME providers do not receive reimbursement for performance.

When a physician or therapist orders a custom-built wheelchair specifically for a particular patient, how much time will a provider spend measuring and procuring everything that is needed for that one customer? Perhaps the provider has assigned that task to the company’s physical therapist, who spends a great number of hours filling the request.

Once the paperwork is submitted to Medicare for reimbursement and there are no problems unearthed, when the provider’s payment arrives will the profit allowed on that transaction cover the cost of the time it consumed? Will that provider be “paid for performance?”

Time is money and must be reimbursed. This is a message that must be delivered to the government. I see the cost overruns on solid bids made to the government that are paid for various items. Does a DME dealer have the luxury of submitting a cost overrun after he or she or the company PT spent half a day or longer properly fitting the patient to the physician’s specifications?

‘In the Home’

Does this mean that a patient, sitting in his wheelchair, must stay inside the door of his home? Can he go to the park for some fresh air and sunshine? Can that patient be taken on a shopping trip to the supermarket with the family caregiver without violating any in-the-home restrictions?

One’s home should never be like a prison. The interpretation of “in the home” should not mean that patients must be confined. The patients in question should have leeway.

‘Well Done’

Just two little words, but they carry a lot of weight. I spoke with several DME dealers who operate very successful businesses to get an idea of what they do to keep their employees working at the highest level. They don’t rant, rave or holler when something goes wrong. They quietly discuss any situations that occur with the person at fault. Rather than chastise, they praise.

I know this sounds awkward, but when you have to correct the failures of your staff, this works. Tell them how proud you are of the hard work they always perform. Speak about the untoward incident in such fashion that they recognize that you care about them as your employees.

Whenever one of your employees makes a nice sale, satisfies an unhappy client or rearranges a display, say, “Well done.” These little words of encouragement will reap a large reward.

Sheldon “Shelly” Prial is based in Melbourne, Fla., with Prial Consulting and also serves as the director of government relations for Atlanta-based Graham-Field Health Products. In 1987, he founded the Homecare Providers Co-Op, now part of The VGM Group. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 321/255-3885.