HomeCare News

LAS VEGAS (March 21, 2014)—The winners of the Innovative HME Retail Product Awards, sponsored by HomeCare magazine, displayed their wares and made their case at Medtrade Spring from March 10-12, 2014, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The biannual awards honored HME products that are particularly suited for retail sale.

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. (March 17, 2014) —Last fall, SIGVARIS introduced the Zurich Collection, a luxurious line of graduated compression socks made from natural fibers. This spring, Sigvaris announced that the SEA ISLAND COTTON Socks for women are joining this collection. “Across North America, Sea Island Cotton Socks product line has become a favorite compression sock among men,” says Scot J. Dubé, president and CEO of Sigvaris in North America.

WASHINGTON (March 14, 2014)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) announced the creation of a new digital communications campaign aimed at driving consumer awareness about the painful and disheartening problems associated with Medicare reform mistakes that are restricting consumers’ access to home care medical equipment, services and supplies.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (March 17, 2014) —Millions of Americans, including breast cancer survivors and individuals battling leg edema and ulcers, suffer from lymphedema. A new strategic alliance between Medline Industries, Inc., the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of health care products, and Devon Medical Products, a global medical device manufacturer, will provide more people will have greater access to medical devices that treat this condition.

ATLANTA & LAS VEGAS (March 11, 2014) —Brightree, a provider of cloud-based clinical, billing and business management software solutions for the post-acute care industry, unveiled at its new brand, reflecting the organization’s broadening investment in technology and services across the post-acute care sector of health care.

BALL GROUND, Ga. (March 10, 2014) —CAIRE, a provider of respiratory care products for the home health care industry, announced the release of the SeQual eQuinox portable oxygen concentrator (POC). The SeQual eQuinox is a new, advanced transportable POC, with numerous new features to satisfy both patient wants and provider needs. The eQuinox delivers clinical benefits you have come to expect from the SeQual Eclipse POCs, and now includes additional user enhancements.

WASHINGTON (March 21, 2014)—The American Association for Homecare and the VGM Group applauded Representatives Glenn Thompson (R-PA.) and Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) for urging CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner to refrain from further action to expand Medicare’s bidding program. CMS published an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (CMS-1460-ANPRM) entitled Medicare Program: Methodology for Adjusting Payment Amounts for Certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS

WASHINGTON (March 19, 2014) —To help prepare for the IDC-10 transition on Oct. 1, 2014, Common Electronic Data Interchange (CEDI), in conjunction with CMS, is asking for volunteers to conduct limited end-to-end testing July 21-25. A sample of 32 participants for each DME MAC will be selected from the volunteers to provide a representation of DME provider, claim, and submitter types. To be considered for the test, complete the volunteer form by March 24.

ATLANTA (March 10, 2014)—Brightree LLC, a provider of cloud-based clinical, billing and business management software solutions for the post-acute care industry, announced that it has successfully participated in national ICD-10 testing by CMS.

WASHINGTON (March 14, 2014)—Kim Brummett, AAHomecare's vice president of regulatory affairs, attended an invitation-only roundtable meeting with Senate Finance Committee staff.

LAS VEGAS (March 14, 2014)—Just shy of 2,000 providers showed up for Medtrade Spring, the Spring version of the nation’s premiere HME trade show. Exhibitors reported steady traffic on the Mandalay Bay Convention Center floor, and educational sessions yielded solid attendance. “Medtrade Spring has been productive,” said Michael Schumacher, territory sales manager, Graham-Field Health Products Inc, Atlanta.

LAS VEGAS (March 11, 2014)—“For the first time, we got a provision in a Senate Finance Committee markup,” said Jay Witter, AAHomecare vice president, government vffairs. “The issue is small—it deals with licensure in competitive bidding. But it is the first time the committee has ever officially voiced concern with competitive bidding.” Tom Ryan knows the pain felt by many providers in today’s competitive bidding climate.

On March 5, CMS hosted an Open Door Forum focused on the recently released advanced notice of proposed rulemaking on the competitive bidding program, as well as the Hospice Quality Reporting System. Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Competitive Bidding CMS discussed the recently released advanced notice of proposed rulemaking titled “Methodology for Adjusting Payment Amounts for Certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies Using Information from Competitive Bi

MUNDELEIN, Ill. (March 11, 2014)—Skin plays an important role in infection prevention. As the body’s largest organ, experts say healthy skin contributes to the prevention of skin breakdown.

POMONA, Calif. (March 10, 2014)—Amsino, a leading medical device developer and manufacturer, officially launched its new AMSure Urethral Self Catheterization Kit with R-Polished eyes during Medtrade Spring. The AMSure Urethral Self Catheterization Kit is designed to promote independent living. The advanced, R-Polished Eye technology enhances patient comfort, and built-in thumb holes on the collection bag plus a ring cap on the introducer tip assists patients with limited dexterity.

SAN DIEGO, Calif.

Still considering attending Medtrade Spring? If you arrive at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas in person Tuesday, March 11 or Wednesday, March 12, just mention “special discount” at the registration desk for a truly great deal on an Expo Floor Pass. Visit medtrade.com for more information about the show.

March 11, 2014 Mandalay Bay Convention Center, South Pacific Room F Las Vegas, Nev. 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Be a part of the home care sector’s premier advocacy event and one of the top networking opportunities at Medtrade Spring. Stand with industry leaders and stand up for home care by supporting our efforts to get factual, positive information about homecare to the people who need to hear it most—Congress and the media.

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (March 6, 2014)—Umbian, Inc., a provider of cloud-based health care compliance solutions, announced that key features of its U-Sleep compliance monitoring solution have been integrated into Universal Software Solutions’ Healthcare Data Management System (HDMS) billing management platform. The end result is a more efficient mechanism for merging practice management and billing-related activities with patient usage compliance.

SOLON, Ohio (March 4, 2014)—Multi Radiance Medical (MRM), manufacturer and marketer of FDA-cleared lasers for drug-free pain relief, announced that LaserStim—the first and only FDA-cleared device to combine neuro-adaptive electrical stimulation and laser in a single emitter—provides non-invasive pain relief for a number of foot conditions including Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. As a result, doctors of podiatry (DPM) optimize treatment and are positioned to expand their practices.