IRVINE, Calif., May 30, 2013—Breathe Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of innovative medical devices for people with respiratory conditions, announces the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company 510(k) clearance to market its Sleep System (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP & Interface) in the U.S. for treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
HomeCare News
TORRANCE, Calif., May 29, 2013—Families of special need children are finding it more difficult than ever to obtain a wheelchair. Public programs are reducing funding for necessary adaptive equipment and private insurances are following in their footsteps. Even if insurance companies do pay, the whole process can take months, even years to get the funding for the correct wheelchair.
WATERLOO, Iowa, May 31, 2013—VGM Group, Inc., including U.S. Rehab, has signed a partner agreement with audit expert s The van Halem Group. The agreement will provide discounted rates to VGM and U.S. Rehab members for monthly compliance packages that include quarterly audits, education and training, as well as a compliance hotline and Web-based reporting capabilities.
The webinar “Retail Sales vs. Billing Medicare: How to aggressively increase retail sales while avoiding problems with Medicare” will be presented June 20 from 2:30–4 p.m. ET. Medicare is broke. It went broke taking care of 23 million of the the Greatest Generation. There is a tsunami of 78 million Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) who are retiring at the rate of 10,000 per day.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 31, 2013—This year’s Washington Legislative Conference was a resounding success thanks to the more than 250 homecare advocates who made visits to Representatives and Senators. In all, advocates completed approximately 300 visits to Congressional offices. The visits had an immediate impact. By Friday afternoon, H.R. 1717 had 96 cosponsors and the Thompson-Braley letter to CMS asking for a delay implementing Round 2 had 45 additional signers.
BROOMALL, Penn., May 20, 2013—Medical Alert announces the expansion of its Connect and Protect Dealer Program. A Medical Alert device is a personal emergency response system that is used for any medical, fire, or police emergency. Through the Connect and Protect Dealer Program independent dealers have the opportunity to build-long term, incremental income in an ever-expanding market of seniors.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 23, 2013—Independent Medical Co-Op (IMCO), Daytona Beach, FL announces the launch of IMCO Home Care a membership group dedicated to serving the HME/DME provider. For the past 31 years, IMCO has been the premier organization for independent medical supply distributors and its members are a driving force in the physician, hospital, nursing home, home health, EMS, industrial and many other health care markets.
WATERLOO, Iowa, May 23, 2013—Mike Kloos has been named president of VGM Insurance, replacing Tom Jones, who will retire from that position May 31. Kloos, who begins his new position June 1, joins VGM from TCF Equipment Finance, where he is senior vice president of strategic business development. He started with VGM Leasing (later VGM Financial Services) in 1994.
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., May 22, 2013—The new, easy-to-use Umbrella Cane offers the versatility and convenience of a cane and umbrella in one, making it a great mobility option when rain is in the forecast. The umbrella includes a hidden cane that can be easily detached to provide assistance when walking while the umbrella keeps the user dry. The Umbrella Cane is also attractive with a handsome plaid pattern and a gloss black cane handle.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 23, 2013—As reported by Lindsay Wise, McClatchy Washington Bureau, in the Kansas City Star, the president and chief executive officer of a medical equipment company invoked the Fifth Amendment at Senate hearing Wednesday, declining to answer questions about aggressive marketing tactics used to sell scooters, sleep apnea machines and other home medical supplies to Medicare recipients who may not need or want them. Jon Letko of U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 23, 2013—As of this date, AAHomecare welcomes 155 new members from NAIMES as full paid members of the associations. Wayne Stanfield, former president and CEO of NAIMES and now vice president of provider relations for AAHomecare, and Tyler J. Wilson, president of AAHomecare, extend a warm welcome to these companies.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 23, 2013—Support is growing for H.R. 1717. Major consumer and provider groups are lining up to sign the United Spinal Association letter endorsing the Medicare DMEPOS Market Pricing Program Act of 2013, which will replace the controversial Medicare bidding program with the far better market pricing program.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 23, 2013—All of the congressional speakers at last week’s Washington Legislative Conference sessions had the same message for the homecare sector: Tell us your stories. “It is truly important to talk with your elected representatives,” said Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).
AUSTIN, Texas, May 13, 2013—A new High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) vest that gives respiratory patients the freedom to move around during treatments is now available in the United States, International Biophysics Corporation (IBC) has announced.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 16, 2013—On Wednesday and Thursday of last week, AAHomecare’s Regulatory Council met at the association’s Washington, D.C., office. Discussions revolved around key issues related to bidding, audits, PECOS and the face-to-face exam requirement, as well as emerging issues such as oximetry testing in skilled nursing facilities.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 16, 2013—Currently H.R. 1717, the Medicare DMEPOS Market Pricing Program Act of 2013, has 44 cosponsors. It needs to get at least as many cosponsors as H.R. 6490, which had 94. To make this happen, everyone must do their part.
DALLAS, Texas, May 16, 2013—Munsch, Hardt, Lopf & Harr invites you to attend the webinar “Program Integrity Manual Changes Should Benefit DME Suppliers” Thurs. May 23, 2013, from 12-1 p.m. CST.
ELYRIA, Ohio—May 16, 2013—Invacare Corporation proudly sponsored the Buckeye Wheelchair Games, which took place May 16-18, 2013, at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio and was hosted by the Buckeye Paralyzed Veterans of America chapter.
EXETER, Penn., May 14, 2013—Quantum Rehab and Pride Mobility Products Corporation are pleased to announce an exclusive partnership with the Comfort Company. Beginning this month the Comfort Company will sell Quantum and Pride’s manual wheelchair offerings, including the Stylus LS, Litestream XF, Litestream Junior and Kids UP products across the United States.
LAKE WYLIE, S.C., May 15, 2013—MedBill utilizes a unique approach to DME billing services. Durable medical equipment (DME) billing is heavily scrutinized and payor policies are ever-changing. The nature of reimbursement regulations underlines the need for a reliable partner that can navigate through the billing environment. MedBill’s innovative methods provide a clear path to lower denials and a streamlined revenue cycle for DME providers.