New, can’t-miss additions and top session picks from the HomeCare team
by Stephanie Gibson

The home care industry is looking for answers—and ideas—and there’s no better place to find and share them than at Medtrade. The annual expo—the largest in the country for the HME/DME industry, held this year for the first time in Orlando, Fla.—is the venue for a wealth of insight and networking opportunities. Providers, experts, exhibitors and presentors will converge at the Orange County Convention Center, just minutes from the Orlando International Airport, from Oct. 8-10 to exchange thoughts and predictions for the post-Round 2 era.

During the three-day conference, attendees will find 120 sessions from which to choose, all offering information that will provide a better grasp on legislation and regulation, and ways to not only recover but also thrive after recent Medicare cuts. Think of 
it as a giant brainstorming meeting for success.

Special conference tracks easily identify the sessions that will best benefit your business. The 14 categories include: Alternative Revenue Opportunities; Audits: Pre- and Post-Payment; Business Operations; Competitive Business; Human Resources, Leadership and Staff Development; Information Technology; Legislative and Regulatory Issues; Medicare Carrier Updates; Non-Medicare Payers; Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology; Reimbursement; Retail; Sales and Marketing; and Sleep/Oxygen and Respiratory Issues.

Exciting Show Additions

New to the expo this year is an expanded Retail Design Center. Led by Jim Greatorex, owner of Black Bear Medical in Portland, Maine, a team of panelists will narrow down the top six new retail product opportunities before a special presentation at the show. Medtrade 
is also unveiling the innovative 6-4-18 series—“6 educational sessions 4 survival and success in the next 18 months,” as promised by group organizers. The sessions were created to help providers develop better business practices for long-term success and will cover topics such as collections, buying and cash flow management, risk reduction, workplace efficiency, and more. Unlike the additional seminars and workshops offered at the expo, these six one-hour sessions are included with a regular conference pass and include the following for a well-rounded education: Why Your Purchasing Model Must Evolve in the New HME Industry (Tues. 10/8, 1:30 p.m.); Assessing the Financial Health of your DME Company (Tues. 10/8, 2:45 p.m.); Improving Cash Flow with Business Analytics (Tues. 10/8, 4 p.m.); Exploring Strategic 
Options—Developing M&A Strategies for Healthcare Reform (Wed. 10/9, 9:15 a.m.); HME Transformation: Leading in Times of Crisis (Wed. 10/9, 1:30 p.m.); and Diversification and Operational Efficiencies for Greater Profitability (Wed. 10/9, 4 p.m.).

Make sure to save a little time to swing by the Power Lunch session from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday. Attendees will have the opportunity to sit in on their choice of three roundtable discussions moderated by industry experts. Feature topics include retail HME, legal issues, mergers, compliance and strategic planning. Visit medtrade.com for more information.