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.
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HME Products
New Products
Convaid/Pediatric Positioning System Mountee Call 888/266-8243. Web site: www.convaid.com Circle 499 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Freedom Lift/Lift Base Action Base Call 800/755-2856. Web site: www.freedom-lift.com Circle 500 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. LP International/Electric Hand Truck PowerMate Pogo Call 800/697-6283. Web site: www.powermate.info Circle 498 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. FLA Orthopedics/Ankle Brace FlexLite Call 800/327-4110. Web site: www.flaorthopedics.com Circle 497 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Ongoing Care Solutions/Stirrup Ankle Braces Wel-Kare Call 800/375-0207. Web site: www.ongoingcare.com Circle 496 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Swede-O/Ankle Brace Tarsal Lok Call 800/525-9339. Web site: www.swedeo.com Circle 495 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Great Ideas Inc./Toilet Seat Solution ComfortSeat Call 800/611-5515. Web site: www.solutioncomfortseat.com Circle 483 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company... -
Legislation & Regulation
At the Head of the Troops
For more than 12 years — and 25 if you count his experience in policy-making positions at various local, state and federal levels — David T. Williams has devoted his career to changing governmental policy for the benefit of home medical equipment providers, manufacturers and consumers. His co-workers and peers say Williams ranks among “the best minds in the industry” when it comes to developing and implementing strategies to influence the regulatory and legislative processes that govern the industry. And it is for his deep commitment to the industry that judges of HomeCare‘s HomeCaring Awards for 2003 chose Williams as a recipient of the honor. While much of his involvement takes place behind the scenes, in one clear example of his personal diligence, Williams sought... -
Legislation & Regulation
Editor’s Inbox
HME Providers “Set Up”To Take Fraud Fall There is nothing competitive about competitive bidding. It is just a tool for CMS to eliminate providers, fix prices and control fraud and abuse. Over the years, I have noticed that there seems to be an increase in the number of fraud cases uncovered by the FBI and OIG when there is some legislative change in the works. It is like they need to prove to everyone that what they are about to do is needed: “See! Look at the fraud! Now, take the punishment!” Interesting, isn’t it? The real rub of all of this is that the system is set up to allow an investigation of any one of us to result in an indictment. The paperwork... -
Legislation & Regulation
Bush Signs Medicare Reform Bill As Industry Braces for Impact
Washington After a months-long battle on Capitol Hill, President Bush signed Medicare reform legislation into law Dec. 8. Among its provisions, The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 mandates a five-year Consumer Price Index freeze for DME beginning this year. It phases in DME competitive bidding in the nation’s top 10 metropolitan statistical areas in 2007 with expansion to the top 80 MSAs in 2009, after which the Department of Health and Human Services could extend competitive bidding nationwide. Beginning in 2005, the Medicare reform law calls for reimbursement cuts on a string of items, including oxygen, wheelchairs, nebulizers, diabetic suppplies, hospital beds and air mattresses, based on the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) median. The new law also reduces reimbursement... -
CMS/Medicare
NSC Issues 760 New Supplier Numbers
Baltimore Continuing an ease of its supplier-number moratorium, the National Supplier Clearinghouse has issued 760 new supplier numbers, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced at a December Open Door forum. However, the agency added that new applicants will continue to experience delays as the NSC continues to aggressively scrutinize its applications. For breaking news, go to www.homecaremonday.com, the electronic news service of the home medical equipment industry. -
CMS/Medicare
DMERCs Issue Power Wheelchair Policy Clarification
Baltimore Following the 10-point initiative called Operation Wheeler Dealer by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services/Office of Inspector General to curb fraud and abuse of the Medicare power wheelchair benefit, last month the four durable medical equipment regional carriers announced a clarification of the local medical review policy for power wheelchairs and the adoption of “a consistent approach” to medical review of power wheelchair claims. The Medicare Coverage Issues Manual/60-9 states that Medicare will cover a wheelchair if the patient’s condition would otherwise confine him to a bed or chair. A power wheelchair is covered if the patient is unable to operate a wheelchair manually. According to the DMERCs’ new clarification, power wheelchairs will be covered only for “patients who are nonambulatory.” In bulletins... -
Legislation & Regulation
NCSL Health Committee Proposes Medicaid Reform Platform
Washington At the National Conference of State Legislatures’ fall forum last month, the organization’s health committee outlined its platform for controlling state Medicaid costs. Now that Medicare reform has been accomplished, NCSL representatives said they anticipate that Congress and the Bush administration will turn attention to reform of Medicaid. Among major elements of the strategy is a call for the federal government to begin counter-cyclical financing, which would automatically boost federal Medicaid payments to states during economic downturns. The platform announcement follows several NCSL survey reports describing how states have altered their Medicaid programs during the past two years of budget turmoil, and how they plan to alter them in the future. According to State Medicaid Actions: A Two-Year Review of State Actions as a... -
Providers
Provider News
Genesis Health Ventures Completes Spin-Off, Changes Name to NeighborCare: Kennett Square, Pa.-based Genesis Health Ventures (GHV) has completed the spin-off of its eldercare and rehabilitation businesses into a separate publicly traded company, Genesis HealthCare Corp., and has changed its name to NeighborCare. NeighborCare, an institutional pharmacy provider, also provides infusion therapy services, home medical equipment, respiratory therapy services and community-based retail pharmacies. The company serves 32 states and the District of Columbia. Centura Health at Home to Launch Telehealth Program: Centura Health at Home, a Denver provider of home care, hospice, oxygen and home medical equipment, will launch a pilot telehealth program designed to reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits for congestive heart failure patients. Medical products used in the patient’s home, such as an... -
CMS/Medicare
Scully Resigns, Joins Alston & Bird; Smith Named Acting CMS Head
Baltimore After three years at the helm of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Administrator Tom Scully resigned on Dec. 15 and has joined Alston & Bird’s Washington, D. C., law practice. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson named Dennis Smith, director of the agency’s Center for Medicaid and State Operations, as interim CMS administrator. At the same time, Thompson said Leslie Norwalk will remain in her position as deputy administrator and chief operating officer at CMS, and will continue to be the CMS lead in carrying out new Medicare reform legislation. Scully’s resignation became effective shortly after President Bush signed The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 on Dec. 8. “Watching the President and Secretary Thompson...