WASHINGTON, D.C., April 26, 2013—While everyone agrees that preventing waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid is a top priority, questions abound about how to achieve that goal. How should the federal government preserve integrity in health care programs as well as a healthy marketplace and access to quality care at the same time?
HomeCare News
WATERLOO, Iowa, April 22, 2013—Greg Packer has been promoted to president of U.S. Rehab, VGM Group, Inc.’s alliance for complex rehab providers. “Through Greg’s tireless efforts, ability to lead and his entrepreneurial spirit, the U.S. Rehab brand has grown to be the most recognizable entity within independent providers of complex rehab equipment. He has been active in lobbying for complex rehab issues.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April 26, 2013—Ottobock announces the launch of its new orthotics-based custom seating system, the OBSS Ortho-Shape.
MURRAYSVILLE, Penn., April 24, 2013—Philips Respironics, a unit of Royal Philips Electronics, announces the launch of the SleepMapper self-management system, a robust mobile and web-based solution for patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that combines the components of feedback, education and troubleshooting. It is also the first self-management system for OSA patients that incorporates motivation enhancement therapy techniques to aid in adherence to sleep therapy.
WALTHAM, Mass., April 26, 2013—NeuroMetrix introduced the SENSUS pain management system at Medtrade Spring. SENSUS is the only transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) designed specifically for patients with chronic pain and diabetes. SENSUS was featured in the New Product Pavilion. Response from attendees was very positive.
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass, April 26, 2013—dmetrain earned the Creative Concept Award at Medtrade Spring, an honor that factors in the company’s booth, and the overall creativity of that booth’s marketing. Tracey Jones, marketing coordinator, dmetrain, credits a marketing campaign that sparked curiosity for attendees and generated buzz around the company’s online employee education system.
ELYRIA, Ohio, April 12, 2013—Invacare Top End is was the title sponsor of the Greenville 2013 Para-Cycling Open, which took place April 19-21, 2013 in Greenville, S.C. Para-cycling is a cycling competition for athletes with physical disabilities governed by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
EXETER, Penn., April 18, 2013—Pride Mobility Products Corporation is pleased to announce the addition of Andrew Pyrih as senior vice president, domestic sales. He will focus largely on the strategic development of Pride’s retail mobility business while closely collaborating with Jay Brislin, MSPT, vice president, Quantum Rehab, to unite the overall vision and sales growth of the company’s product lines.
WATERLOO, Iowa, April 18, 2013—The VGM Heartland Conference has become a June tradition in the HME industry, but organizers aren’t resting on their laurels for the 2013 edition, June 10-13 in VGM Group Inc.’s hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. “New” is an apt description for many aspects of the industry’s premier educational event. Four pre-conference sessions will be offered June 10:
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 19, 2013—AAHomecare and senior officials at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) met recently to discuss documentation requirements for repairs to power mobility devices (PMDs), as well as the prior authorization demonstration project.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., April 19, 2013—National Government Services, the Jurisdiction B Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC) will be conducting a webinar on the new cost-saving features recently added to the Connex Web application. This webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23, 2013 from 10:30 a.m. ET to 11:30 a.m.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., April 19, 2013—According to National Government Services, outlined here are the principal changes to DME MAC Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) and Policy Articles (PAs) that have been revised and posted that pertain to power mobility devices:
WESTMINSTER, Colo., April 19, 2013—CareTouch Communications, Inc. announced the launch of a new managed services program for home medical equipment (HME) providers who won the recent Medicare bid. The program is focused on enhancing revenues and profitability by utilizing the CareTouch360 platform to automate and simplify patient management from intake or setup through life of service.
AUSTIN, Texas, April 11, 2013—SecureCare has released a new version of Sfax, its secure, cloud-based faxing solution. Sfax v3 maintains the essential benefits that keep faxing relevant but removes the pain associated with manual faxing by bringing it to the cloud. Healthcare organizations rely on fax for business-critical documents. Sfax v3 is faster, more efficient and offers easier workflow management for groups.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 11, 2013— From Tyler J. Wilson, president of the American Association for Homecare: “With the release today of information about competitive bidding Round 2 contract suppliers, CMS continues to gloss over the structural problems in the bidding program. In its announcement, the agency spins a far from accurate picture regarding all the supposed positives for Medicare.
BALTIMORE, Md., April 9, 2013—According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), it has today announced that 799* suppliers have been awarded contracts as part of Round 2 of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program to provide certain medical equipment and supplies (such as scooters, wheelchairs and oxygen) to beneficiaries in 91 communities across the country.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., April, 12, 2013—With today’s health insurance products pushing more payment responsibilities to patients, A/R Allegiance Group LLC (ARA) has become even more valuable to hundreds of their HME/DME clients. From its founding ARA has specialized in billing and debt collection strategies focused on private pay receivables and that experience is in demand today more than ever.
SPARTANBURG, S.C., April 10, 2013—QS/1 has released Medicare Part B Compliance Documentation, the first of its type on the market to help pharmacies that want to serve Part B customers while remaining compliant. With Medicare Part B regulations on the rise and audits becoming more routine, pharmacies that try to service Part B clients find themselves in dangerous territory. QS/1’s cutting-edge software helps pharmacies keep the proper paperwork within their pharmacy system.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 10, 2013—The cherry blossoms were in bloom, the temperature was in the seventies, and Taylor Morris took off for a 45-minute ride through Rock Creek Park, leaving the group of guys in dress clothes and shoes following him in the dirt, so to speak. The occasion last Monday was the presentation of a new all-terrain Extreme 4 x 4 wheelchair, courtesy of Angola, Ind., manufacturer Innovation In Motion. IIM is a contracted vendor of U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 11, 2013—According to AAHomecare, at last week’s Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing for Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator, Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) highlighted the specific areas on which he wanted Tavenner to focus: