ATLANTA--Propelled by the hope of gaining tools to build a firmer foundation in the ever-shifting sands of the home medical equipment industry, thousands of providers converged on the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta last week for the 29th annual Medtrade.
The venerable expo and conference boasted some 600 exhibitors and 170 educational sessions on everything from outsourcing oxygen to retail and rehab.
It also held some surprises for both exhibitors and attendees, who said they had expected a somber mood because of the overwhelming challenges facing the industry.
The HME segment of health care has been beleaguered with such issues as competitive bidding, currently expected to be reintroduced sometime next year; an impending 9.5 percent reimbursement cut and a 36-month cap on oxygen rental, both effective Jan. 1; and escalating reports of fraud and abuse, not to mention the country’s devastating financial reversals.
“We didn’t know going in what [to expect] with everything going on. It’s a pleasant surprise,” said Ryan Walker, corporate accounts manager for Graham-Field Health Products, Atlanta. “We’ve had an excellent show, a great turnout.”
Chris Hutchinson, global general manager for sleep for Mansfield, Mass.-based Covidien, agreed.
“We’ve been really happy. We’ve had good foot traffic,” he said, even as attendees filled comfy chairs to participate in the company’s blind test that allowed them to compare different CPAPs.
This year’s expo was enhanced by such activities as an Oktoberfest networking event complete with food, beer and a band hosted by Medtrade on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. In addition, the new Center Stage allowed companies to spotlight their products in a theater setting on the show floor, and at Accreditation Central, many of CMS' deemed accrediting organizations presented a continuous flow of information. As well, numerous companies hosted special events at their booths, everything from magic shows at Roscoe Medical to foot massages courtesy Happy Feet.
Also for the first time this year, state associations had an area of their own. “We’re thrilled to be here,” said Judy Bunn, executive director of both the Kentucky Medical Equipment Suppliers Association and the Association of Indiana Home Medical Equipment Services, who added that she hopes for an even stronger showing of state groups next year.
Those attending also got a glimpse of what Kevin Gaffney, Medtrade director, called the show’s “new look”--a modernized logo in orange and green with the slogan “Connecting the HME Industry.” That enhanced identity will evolve further for next year’s 30th show anniversary, Gaffney said.
For many attendees, though, the focus was on education and information.
It was Suzanne Ludwig’s first visit to Medtrade, and she found it so valuable that next year, she will bring another employee with her so they can cover more ground, she said.
“The one thing I don’t like is that there are a lot of different sessions at one time and I can’t go to all the ones [I am interested in],” said Ludwig, patient financial services manager for Spectrum Health in Kentwood, Mich.
Wayne Lewis with Milner Rushing Discount Drugs in Florence, Ala., said he, too, was on the hunt for information, specifically about software, and had had some luck.
He also wanted to learn more about the issues facing the industry so his company could be better prepared for whatever the future holds. “I’m trying to learn as much as I can,” he said.
“We just don’t know as an industry what is going on,” he said. “People are worried. We’re all anxious. We don’t know what to expect. I think there is so much uncertainty in this business that no one knows what to do.”
Medtrade Spring will be held March 25-26, 2009, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For information, visit www.medtrade.com.