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

    State NewsWire

    Noteworthy OIG Says State Medicaid Agencies are Ready for HIPAA: After conducting telephone interviews with officials from the 51 state Medicaid agencies, the Washington-based U.S. Office of Inspector General determined that most states are on track to meet the electronic-data-interchange standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The deadline for compliance is Oct.s 16, 2003, and 42 agencies — representing approximately 80 percent of states — anticipate they will meet that deadline, the OIG reported. Among the barriers to HIPAA compliance are dwindling financial resources and technical support, regulatory delays, changing federal regulations and inconsistent interpretations, the states reported. More information about this survey is available at http://oig.hhs.gov. Georgia Class Action Lawsuit Alleges ADA Violation: Seven individuals who, because of their disabilities, were...

    Read More →

  • HME Products

    Manual Wheelchairs

    Sunrise/Manual Wheelchair Quickie Ti Titanium Call 888/333-2572. Web site: www.sunrisemedical.com Circle 425 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Wheelchairs of Kansas/Manual Wheelchair BCW Advantage Call 800/537-6454. Web site: www.wheelchairsofkansas.com Circle 433 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Essential Medical Supply/Manual Wheelchair Ultimate Heavy Duty Transport Chair Call 800/826-8423. Web site: www.essentialmedicalsupply.com Circle 428 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Tuffcare/Manual Wheelchair Venture Dual Axle Model 287 Call 954/977-4450. Web site: www.tuffcare.com Circle 430 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. TiSport/Manual Wheelchair TiLite Evo Call 800/545-2266. Web site: www.tisport.net Circle 427 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Convaid/Manual Wheelchair Rodeo Tilt-in-Space Call 888/266-8243. Web site: www.convaid.com Circle 431 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. ConvaQuip/Manual Wheelchair Model 900XL Series Call 800/637-8436. Web site: www.convaquip.com Circle 424...

    Read More →

  • HME Products

    Ambulatory Aids

    Mountain Properties/The Mobility Aid Co./Cane Norman Rockwell Adjustable Offset and Quad Canes Call 604/557-9699. Web site: www.mtnprop.com Circle 448 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information Maddak/Prone-Support Walker Ableware Maddacrawler Call 973/628-7600. Web site: www.maddak.com Circle 446 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Invacare/Rollator Rollite Rollator Call 800/333-6900. Web site: www.invacare.com Circle 449 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Altimate Medical/Mobile Standing System EasyStand Mobile Magician-ei Call 800/342-8968. Web site: www.altimatemedical.com Circle 439 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Snug Seat/Reverse Gait Trainer The Crocodile Call 800/336-7684. Web site: www.snugseat.com Circle 447 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Wenzelite Rehab Supplies/Gait Trainer Reverse Gait Trainer Call 800/706-9255. Web site: www.wenzelite.com Circle 440 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. L.A. Care/Cane Base AbleTripod Cane Base Call 888/988-2263....

    Read More →

  • Providers

    Manufacturer NewsWire

    Alliance ResMed and MedCath Form Strategic Alliance to Address Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Cardiovascular Disease: ResMed, based in San Diego, and MedCath — a national provider of cardiovascular services based in Charlotte, N.C. — have formed a strategic alliance in which MedCath will offer sleep-disordered-breathing screening, diagnosis and treatment, in addition to services the company currently offers through its cardiovascular diagnostic centers. The Pikes Peak Cardiovascular Lab in Colorado Springs, Colo., the first cardiovascular sleep lab established under the alliance, began diagnosing patients in December 2002. Noteworthy Respironics Consolidates Manufacturing for Hospital Division: In what the company is calling its “final step” toward integrating the recent acquisition of Novametrix Medical Systems, Respironics, Murrysville, Pa., is consolidating its hospital-division manufacturing. Under the consolidation, manufacturing and support functions...

    Read More →

  • HME Products

    New Products

    Coloplast/Catheters SpeediCath Intermittent Catheters Call 888/726-7872. Web site: www.us.coloplast.com Circle 491 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Quantum Rehab/Environmental Control System Q-Controls Call 800/800-8586. Web site: www.quantumrehab.com Circle 500 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Cramer Decker Medical/Cylinder Backpack CD1005 Cylinder Backpack Call 877/222-0200. Web site: www.cramerdeckermedical.com Circle 492 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Capital Marketing Technologies/Breast Form Nearly Me Soft Touch Lite Call 800/887-3370. Web site: www.cm-tech.com Circle 498 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. SleepNet/OSA Mask Gel Cool Blue Gel for IQ, Phantom and MiniMe Nasal Masks Call 603/624-1911. Web site: www.sleep-net.com Circle 497 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. A&D Medical/Blood-Pressure-Monitoring Display Healthy Heart Center Call 800/726-7099. Web site: www.LifeSourceOnline.com Circle 499 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Cybernet Medical/Data Collection...

    Read More →

  • CMS/Medicare

    National NewsWire

    Noteworthy CMS Granting Appeals Extensions: The Baltimore-based Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services April 15 began granting extensions of up to 60 days in the 120-day filing deadline for appeals of Part B claims for which initial determinations were made on or after Oct. 1, 2002. The appeal request must include a credible explanation of why the provider needed additional time to gather the necessary supporting records for the claim. HomeCare Honored for News Coverage: HomeCare magazine was honored recently as one of three finalists in its class for the 2003 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for Best New Coverage. Presented by American Business Media, the Neal Awards are the nation’s most prestigious business-to-business editorial awards. This year’s panel of judges selected HomeCare...

    Read More →

  • Providers

    Editor’s Inbox

    The Big Bad Wolf In regard to the article “Pick your Prophet,” (HomeCareXtra Forecast 2003, Winter 2003) Jim Binson suggests that small businesses be proactive should the big, bad wolf called competitive bidding actually become reality. Then, he mentions belonging to a network. Would one of the possibilities of a format for NCB be the use of a network, such as one of the major buying groups? Obviously, I can’t expect any definitive advice as no details about NCB have been decided. However, I would appreciate your input as to this being a possibility. As a small business, we may then find it advisable to join a buying group as an “insurance policy.” — Rebecca Bell, manager, 1-800 Wheelchair, Brooklyn, N.Y. HomeCare Monday A Helpful...

    Read More →

  • Legislation & Regulation

    National NewsWire

    Legislative: Governors Call for Medicaid Reform: Struggling to address Medicaid shortfalls that have reached crisis proportions, the House Energy and Commerce Committee March 12 heard testimony from three governors: Jeb Bush, R-Fla.; John Rowland, R-Conn.; and Bill Richardson, D-N.M. Currently on the table is a proposal from the Bush administration, which would provide states with more flexibility to make Medicaid coverage decisions. Short term, the proposal would offer extra cash to states that chose the more-flexible plan but would cap federal outlays after seven years. While Governors Bush and Rowland generally supported the administration’s proposal, Bush expressed concerns about whether the proposal would recognize population growth. By contrast, Governor Richardson said the administration’s plan shirks federal responsibility. Bush Medicare Plan Could Narrow HME Playing Field,...

    Read More →

  • Providers

    Manufacturer NewsWire

    Noteworthy United Seating and Mobility Launches Web Site: United Seating and Mobility of Florissant, Mo., has launched a Web site designed to provide “practical information for referral sources and consumers about assistive technology,” in addition to general information about the company. While visiting www.unitedseating.com people also may sign up for the company’s electronic newsletter, USM E-News. McKesson Expands Disease Management Offerings: Broomfield, Colo.-based McKesson Health Solutions, a business unit of San Francisco-based McKesson, in May will launch its CareEnhance COPD disease-management product. The program, designed for health plan members who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, uses education modules, taught over the telephone by registered nurses, to teach health plan members the benefits of stopping smoking and to encourage members to take medication prescribed to...

    Read More →