Author

HomeCare Staff

HomeCare staff Meg Herndon and Hannah Wolfson were joined by writers Kristin Easterling and Gail Short to tell these stories. Tamara Davie’s photo on page 32 was taken by Ursula Hope Photography.

  • Legislation & Regulation

    Hobson, Ford Call for Repeal of Reimbursement Cuts

    Washington Reps. David Hobson, R-Ohio, and Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., have introduced a bill to rescind the Medicare reimbursement cuts scheduled for January 2005. Set out in the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), the cuts align pricing of five DME categories — including oxygen and wheelchairs — with rates based on Federal Employee Health Benefits Plans (FEHBP) median pricing, and an Office of Inspector General (OIG) report on oxygen due out later this summer. After a lobbying day in June during the American Association for Homecare’s Legislative Conference, H.R. 4491 picked up nine co-sponsors, including Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mont., the Majority Whip; Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y.; Rep. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H.; Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn.; Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va.; Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio; Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa;...

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  • HME Products

    CMS Contracts Research Firm to Prep For DME Competitive Bidding

    Baltimore Last month, CMS announced it has awarded a contract to the North Carolina-based Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to help launch the massive DME competitive bidding program called for under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA). According to MMA, competitive bidding is slated to begin in 2007 in the nation’s top 10 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and expand to the top 80 MSAs in 2009, after which the program could be implemented nationwide. The contractor is to assist CMS in developing options and recommendations “on effective strategies and designs” for implementing the national program, and will consult with CMS in preparing for this new payment methodology for DME. RTI helped CMS evaluate DME competitive bidding demonstration projects in Polk County, Fla., and San Antonio, Texas, between...

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  • Providers

    VGM Heartland Attendees Tackle Industry Challenges

    More than 450 providers, 225 manufacturers and 50 speakers gathered in the heart of farm country June 1-4 to talk about doing more with less, increasing operational efficiencies and tackling Medicare reimbursement challenges. The VGM Group’s Heartland Conference in Waterloo, Iowa, included tracks focusing on HME, respiratory, rehab and technical training. On June 4, VGM hosted Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, who played a key role in hammering out a Medicare reform compromise last year. “Much to my consternation, there were changes to the durable medical equipment program,” Grassley told an audience at a fund-raiser luncheon. “The House was determined to implement immediate competitive bidding across the board for DME.” Although the Senate ultimately lost the fight to keep competitive...

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  • Legislation & Regulation

    Respiratory Providers Gain Allies on the Hill

    Washington Industry lobbying may be paying off as legislators take note of MMA’s shortcomings — including its mandate of an ASP (average sales price) plus-6-percent reimbursement for inhalation drugs scheduled for 2005. The system could severely affect providers’ margins and, according to observers, could drive some HMEs out of business altogether. As a result, AAHomecare reported in June that Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., sent a letter to CMS Administrator Mark McClellan explaining how the measure would hurt beneficiary access. Specter chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services. “This pricing does not take into account the significant administrative costs associated with delivery of these home care therapies,” the senator wrote. “I therefore urge you, as you develop rulemaking, to use your discretionary...

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  • CMS/Medicare

    New Power Wheelchair Guidance Expected by Year’s End

    Washington What are the thresholds clinicians use to determine who qualifies for power mobility equipment and who doesn’t? That question was the subject of a special CMS Open Door Forum held in mid-June as part of the agency’s new three-pronged approach — including coverage, standards and coding — to restructuring Medicare’s power wheelchair benefit. At the forum, CMS introduced the Interagency Wheelchair Work Group, which, over the coming months, will create a framework for clinical coverage policy for power wheelchairs. The government group is made up of clinical experts from across the Department of Health and Human Services, including the National Institutes of Health, along with physicians and physical and occupational therapists from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Education. Sean Tunis, CMS’...

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  • Providers

    Editor’s Inbox

    Charitable Approach Responding to comments in reference to “Scooter Store Lays Off 200” (February 2003), Volunteers of America of Texas, in our due diligence prior to engaging with The Scooter Store, found them to be very honorable. We have since worked together to distribute refurbished power chairs to several needy clients. Their work with the low-income, underserved community was done with grace and compassion. — David A. North, president/CEO, Volunteers of America of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas Strength in Numbers In the information I submitted for the Top Providers report (April 2004), I inadvertently listed our full-time employees as 7 instead of 117. Each of the 117 employees deserves recognition for their part in our success. They have seen the company go from $2 million...

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  • Operations

    Building a Business Niche by Niche

    Jack Palance had it right. In the 1991 comedy “City Slickers,” Palance slowly leaned over to Billy Crystal and divulged his secret to life: one thing. That may be the secret to business, too, at least for some providers. In the wake of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), HME owners are scrambling to optimize business plans and stay on track for long-term success. According to some industry experts, a good option may well lie in one thing — expanding your business to solve the problems of a specific customer group. In other words, your future could be hiding in one or more of HME’s niche markets. Specialty — or niche — business has a seductive sound, especially as the respiratory and mobility markets, long the...

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  • HME Products

    RESPIRATORY PRODUCT GALLERY

    CONSERVING DEVICES Victor Medical/Conserver O2N Demand II Call 800/382-8187. Web site: www.victormed.com Circle 500 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Allied Healthcare/Conserver Mini Liberty Call 800/444-0105. Web site: www.alliedhpi.com Circle 499 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Responsive Respiratory/Conserver Respond O2 Ultra-light Conserver System Call 866/333-4030. Web site: www.respondo2.com Circle 498 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. OXIMETERS Smiths Medical PM/Finger Oximeter BCI Digit Call 800/558-2345. Web site: www.smiths-medical.com Circle 494 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Nellcor/Oximeter OxiMax NPB-75 Handheld Capnograph and Pulse Oximeter Call 800/635-5267. Web site: www.nellcor.com Circle 493 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. CONCENTRATORS AirSep Corp./Oxygen Concentrator QuietLife 5 Call 888/874-0202. Web site: www.airsep.com Circle 450 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. OxLife/Concentrator Excel Call 800/780-2616. Web site: www.oxlife.com Circle...

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