BILLINGS, Mont. — In news from Computers Unlimited, the company recently announced it has partnered with ARTSCO, Element Payment Services and A/R Allegiance Group.
HomeCare News
BOULDER, Colo. — Covidien has launched the Sandman Alliance, a new patient compliance program that provides education, support and encouragement to OSA patients through personal coaching. The program links a sleep counselor with each patient to document progress and track the patient's therapy using a Web interface, which also allows the patient's sleep physician to log in and monitor the patient's performance.
BATESVILLE, Ind. — Hill-Rom has announced its acquisition of Swedish lift manufacturer Liko for $183 million.
ATLANTA — Linde North America has acquired Respiratory Support Services, Livingston, Tenn., which delivers post-acute respiratory care in a variety of settings, including patient homes.
"Adding RSS' advanced patient care capabilities enables Linde to offer a more complete product and service line in the U.S.," said Mike Walsh, president of LifeGas, the medical division of Linde North America.
CARTHAGE, Ill. — Sherrick Drug & Medical has announced the sale of its pharmacy and durable medical equipment to Wear Drug. After the deal is finalized in early November, Wear will merge the two pharmacies to create a larger pharmacy in its County Market store, Wear's location since 2006. The DME portion of the Sherrick business will stay in its present location but will be renamed MORE (Mobility Oxygen & Rehabilitation Equipment) Medical.
GF Health Products, Atlanta, has appointed James Hourigan as its new COO. Hourigan, who was most recently the COO for Inviro Medical, a manufacturer of medical safety devices, will be responsible for the company's day-to-day operations. According to Graham-Field CEO Bea Scherer, "Jim brings to Graham-Field a tremendous amount of executive experience in global logistics, manufacturing, group purchasing and customer focused marketing ...
BALTIMORE--The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services warned policymakers late Friday that Medicaid spending is projected to grow much faster than the economy over the next 10 years. With expenditures headed toward $5 trillion over the decade, agency officials said, now is the time to rein in costs.
WASHINGTON--In its Work Plan for 2009, issued earlier this month, HHS' Office of Inspector General said it will take on a number of DME investigations.
ATLANTA--Accreditors who geared up for a flood of fall applications from home medical equipment providers are facing the same old same old, they said last week: a steady, but very slow, trickle.
That could mean major trouble for some providers later on, according to accrediting organizations.
HALIFAX, Va.--In a statement issued Friday, the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers said it had written to CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems--again--about rule changes related to the 36-month oxygen rental cap. This time, the organization said, its letter asked for an immediate response.
PALO ALTO, Calif.--On Thursday, Hewlett Packard announced a licensing agreement that allows Home Dialysis Plus to use applications from HP’s inkjet printers in a new home dialysis device.
HD+ plans to use HP's patented technology to develop a portable system that allows patients to get the benefits of nocturnal dialysis in the home. The new machine should be available by the end of 2010, the manufacturer said.
ATLANTA--Last week various polls shifted up and down daily, but according to most there are still only a few points between presidential candidates Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama.
The results of HomeCare's September Web poll--which asked “Which presidential candidate's health plan would be best for the country?--reflect an even tighter race on this issue.
ATLANTA--One of the best reasons to attend Medtrade is to network with colleagues, exhibitors and industry consultants. So this year the show, Oct. 28-30 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, will enhance the experience with its first Oktoberfest Celebration.
BALTIMORE--On Oct. 6, CMS unveiled a host of “aggressive new steps” to prevent fraud and abuse, including the launch of a national recovery audit contractor (RAC) program.
WASHINGTON--The United States has intervened in a lawsuit alleging McKesson Corp., San Francisco, and several other companies submitted false claims to Medicare arising from illegal kickbacks and the establishment of sham durable medical equipment suppliers, the Department of Justice announced Oct. 6.
REDDING, Calif.--The U.S. Supreme Court refused last week to review an appeals court decision that further documentation beyond a CMN could be required for Medicare to pay a claim for a power wheelchair. But petitioner Tom Lambert said he'll continue the fight and will likely pursue another appeal.
Lambert, the owner of Redding, Calif.-based Maximum Comfort, said he was not surprised by the Oct. 6 decision.
TOKYO--Japanese firm Teijin Ltd. has chalked up its third U.S. purchase this year, announcing its acquisition of Clifton, N.Y.-based Home Therapy Equipment on Thursday.
Associated Healthcare Systems, the company’s U.S. consolidated subsidiary, has bought all outstanding shares of Home Therapy Equipment. CEO Donald White of Associated Healthcare, Amherst, N.Y., which itself was bought by Teijin in January, will double as CEO of the newly acquired firm.
POWAY, Calif.--ResMed said last week it has launched an international study to investigate the impact of central sleep apnea treatment on patients with heart failure.
BALTIMORE--On Oct. 1, CMS began publishing on its Web site the system edits it uses to detect certain billing errors.
BALTIMORE--The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' move to scrap its current Program Advisory and Oversight Committee, set up to advise the agency on competitive bidding, raises a slew of unanswered questions, some current members said last week.