industry

HME

  • A Fresh Approach

    Running a successful HME and attracting referral sources is challenging, but it doesn’t have to be brain surgery. “I think ordering oxygen should be as easy as ordering a pizza,” says Jason Seeley, the 29-year-old vice president of Columbus, Ohio-based DASCO Home Medical Equipment. DASCO runs its HME business on simple philosophies and a youthful spirit that have been parlayed into measurable growth. The company has seven locations throughout Ohio, and the 7,500-square-foot main office in Columbus currently is undergoing an expansion to 16,000 square feet. The company reported more than $10 million in revenue for 2003, and Seeley says that’s a 30 percent increase over sales in 2002, when the sales team he implemented began putting the young man’s business strategy to work. DASCO…
    Read More →: A Fresh Approach

  • Rotech Signs On with Gentiva Health Services

    Orlando, Fla. Last month, Rotech Healthcare signed an agreement with Melville, N.Y.-based Gentiva Health Services, the nation’s largest home health nursing company, to supply respiratory therapy and DME services to patients. Rotech now has primary preferred provider arrangements in 23 states and shared preferred arrangements in 10 states through Gentiva’s CareCentrix network, which provides managed care organizations with home care services including traditional home nursing, chronic and acute infusion therapies and DME and respiratory equipment. Rotech has also signed a three-year primary preferred provider agreement with Gentiva to provide CPAP devices and related OSA products for CareCentrix patients. Phillip L. Carter, Rotech’s president and CEO, said the company’s annual revenue from these contracts “could well be greater than $25 million as we enter 2005,” and…
    Read More →: Rotech Signs On with Gentiva Health Services

  • Latest HME News

  • Respiratory and Oxygen Products

    CHAD Therapeutics/Oxygen Therapeutic Device Sage S.M.A.R.T. Call 800/423-8870. Web site: www.sagedevice.com Circle 448 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Invacare Corp./Oxygen Filling System HomeFill II Call 800/333-6900. Web site: www.invacare.com Circle 444 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Respironics/Full Face Mask ComfortFull Call 800/345-6443. Web site: www.respironics.com Circle 442 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. ResMed/Accessory Module ResLink Call 800/424-0737. Web site: www.resmed.com Circle 440 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Sunrise Medical/Bi-Level CPAP DeVilbiss 9055D RPM Call 800/333-4000. Web site: www.sunrisemedical.com Circle 437 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Cramer Decker Medical/Oxygen Regulator Brass Core Mini-Regulator Call 877/222-0200. Web site: www.cramerdeckermedical.com Circle 434 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. SeQual Technologies/Bedside Oxygen Concentrator IntegraSeven Call 800/826-4610. Web site: www.sequal.com Circle 435 or visit www.homecaremag.com…
    Read More →: Respiratory and Oxygen Products

  • Vladeck Predicts HME Market Will Double by 2020

    The chief concern among many attendees at Medtrade Spring in Las Vegas comes as no surprise. “Getting paid and reimbursement cuts,” said Scot Silber, CEO of Green Valley Drugs Home Health and Physician Sales, Henderson, Nev. “Reimbursement cuts,” said Gary Salazar, rehab technology specialist at Mobility Giver Inc., Huntington Beach, Calif. But the coming 2005 cuts didn’t dampen buying activity at the industry trade show and conference, where approximately 7,000 HME providers, manufacturers and others associated with the home health care industry gathered March 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Exhibitors and attendees alike said the aisles were busier this year, and Medtrade producers reported a 13 percent increase in attendance from 2003 — a sign, according to some, of continued strong business in…
    Read More →: Vladeck Predicts HME Market Will Double by 2020

  • New Products

    Homecare Products/Telescoping Ramp Platform 5 Call 800/451-1903. Web site: www.homecareproducts.com Circle 499 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Polymap Wireless/Medical Data Transmitter The Polytel System Call 520/747-1811. Web site: www.polymap.net Circle 496 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Drive Medical-Wenzelite/Posterior Safety Roller Nimbo Call 800/706-9255. Web site: www.drivemedical.com Circle 488 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. The Roho Group/Wheelchair Back Support JetStream Pro Call 800/851-3449. Web site: www.therohogroup.com Circle 482 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Supracor/Shower Cushion Stimulite Call 800/787-7226. Web site: www.supracor.com Circle 487 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Harmar Mobility/Wheelchair Carrier Tilt ‘N’ Tote Call 800/833-0478. Web site: www.harmar.com Circle 497 or visit www.homecaremag.com for company information. Graham-Field Health Products/Hand Grip Ortho-Ease Call 800/347-5678. Web site: www.grahamfield.com Circle 489 or visit…
    Read More →: New Products

  • Many Rivers to Cross

    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ retraction of the DMERCs’ December Web bulletins on restrictive Medicare coverage for motorized wheelchairs and power-operated vehicles (POVs) was a great victory for the entire power wheelchair community, consumers and the HME industry. It is, however, only the first milestone that the industry, in partnership with consumers, needs to attain. Our overall objective related to powered and manual mobility is to ensure that consumers with real medical need continue to have access to mobility devices, enabling them to engage in activities of daily life within their homes. Achieving the following five goals, in conjunction with the consumers we serve, should be an industry priority at the national level. A specialist in health care legislation, regulations and government relations,…
    Read More →: Many Rivers to Cross

  • HME Providers Move into Wal-Mart

    On March 17, Lake Forest, Calif.-based Apria Healthcare opened a pilot store inside a Duncanville (Dallas), Texas, Wal-Mart. The Scooter Store, New Braunfels, Texas, is running branches in Wal-Marts in Montgomery, Ala.; Daytona Beach and Pensacola, Fla.; Hendersonville, N.C.; and Fort Worth, Texas. Salem, Mass., provider Hutchinson Medical has opened two branches inside Wal-Marts in Epping, N.H., and Waterford, Conn. And Lawrenceville, Ga.-headquartered National Vision Inc., which operates 400 eye care centers in Wal-Mart stores in the United States and Mexico, will open one or more HME test stores inside the world’s largest retailer in the second quarter. All of these companies hope to capitalize on Wal-Mart’s astronomical foot traffic. Worldwide, more than 138 million customers walk into the mass merchandiser every week. Its U.S….
    Read More →: HME Providers Move into Wal-Mart

  • CMS Retracts Controversial Power Wheelchair Clarification

    Baltimore Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told legislators that it is retracting the power wheelchair coverage clarification issued by the four DMERCs in Dec. (see HomeCare, January 2004). “CMS has decided to retract the Dec. 9, 2003, Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier (DMERC) article which was intended to reiterate our coverage policy on power wheelchairs,” wrote Carleen Talley, director of CMS’ Congressional Affairs Group, in a notification that was circulated to Capitol Hill offices. “The coverage policy remains unchanged from when it was originally put into place in 1985. CMS will continue to pay claims as it has prior to and following the issuance of the December 9, 2003, DMERC article.” The notice said the agency is taking the action “in…
    Read More →: CMS Retracts Controversial Power Wheelchair Clarification

  • View from the Top

    2003’s Top Providers Gather Strength to Keep Climbing   As HME ascends the face of a politically insecure future, revenues and new market potentials remain strong. In 2003, most companies, large and small, reported peak sales, but as Washington winds up to cut reimbursements more deeply, the positive outlook is not universal. HME businesses will have to retrain themselves, like finely tuned athletes, to beat credibility issues on Capitol Hill and deal with new requirements mandated by the Medicare Modernization Act. But the numbers in HomeCare‘s Top Companies listings speak for themselves. The market is out there. The climb may be harrowing — but that much more worthwhile — in the years ahead.   Winning in the Field, Losing on the Hill   By Tom…
    Read More →: View from the Top

  • Wake Up to Billing for Sleep Apnea

    In 2002, the DMERCs changed coverage policies for CPAPs and supplies to treat those diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These changes opened the doors to many who could not receive treatment under the old policy. Now, continuous positive airway pressure devices (CPAPs) — HCPCS code E0601 — are covered for patients diagnosed with OSA documented by a facility-based, attended polysomnogram (sleep study) and who meet either of the following criteria: (1) The apnea hypopnea index (AHI) is greater than or equal to 15 events per hour, or (2) The AHI is from five to 14 events per hour with documented symptoms of (a) hypertension, history of stroke or ischemia heart disease; or (b) excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired cognition, mood disorders or insomnia. Correct Documentation…
    Read More →: Wake Up to Billing for Sleep Apnea

  • Ready for the Challenge

    The home care industry is facing many challenges in 2004 due to enactment of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA). The American Association for Homecare is well prepared. We have developed an action plan to ensure that policy-makers hear our message to preserve access to high-quality home care equipment and services. And we are putting our strategy in place, a multi-pronged approach that entails concerted efforts on Capitol Hill, in the administration and federal agencies, at the state level and in the public arena. Relationship Building Since passage of the new law, Capitol Hill and the administration have been in an “Okay, how do we move forward now?” mode. There have been lots of personnel changes in Washington, as is always the…
    Read More →: Ready for the Challenge

  • On a Roll

    Mobility gives something that most people take for granted: the ability to live life with dignity and independence. In an ideal world, that’s a gift no
    Read More →: On a Roll

OUR DIGITAL PARTNERS

trending

From Our Partners