OWINGS MILLS, Md., Nov. 13, 2012—The election of Claudia Zacharias, MBA, CAE, president and CEO of the Board of Certification/Accreditation, International (BOC) to its Board of Directors was recently announced by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). ICE is a professional membership association that advances credentialing through education, standards, research, and advocacy to ensure competence across professions and occupations.
HomeCare News
DALLAS, Nov. 15, 2012—According to Edward L. Vishnevetsky of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.—who wrote on the subject in his “Case Studies” column in the Aug. issue of HomeCare magazine, later sharing it with several lawmakers—Daniel R. Levinson, inspector general in the Department of Health and Human Services has issued the report “Improvements Are Needed at the Administrative Law Judge Level of Medicare Appeals (OEI-02-10-00340).
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Nov. 15, 2012—Michael Kuller, RPh, announces that he has launched his latest venture, a book titled The Next Step—Retail Home Medical Equipment (2012, CreateSpace). “There is a lot of interest in home medical equipment with the Baby Boomers aging.,” he said.
MUNDELEIN, Ill., Nov. 9, 2012—There was another important national election held recently. This one brought 270 organizations from throughout North America together on the same side of an important cause—spreading the word about breast cancer awareness and prevention as part of Medline Industries’ second annual national Pink Glove Dance video competition.
FRESNO, Calif., Nov. 15, 2012—Sunrise Medical is pleased to announce the launch of the Quickie QRi, an ultra-lightweight rigid chair with a strong and innovative frame design perfect for users on the go.
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 15, 2012—Early registration is now open for Medtrade Spring Las Vegas. Don’t miss your opportunity for education, new products, and fun in the one and only sin city. Take advantage of the following early bird rates:
• $99 for the conference educational sessions
• $25 for an Expo Pass
NHIC, Corp. DME MAC A will be hosting an Ask-the-Contractor Teleconference (ACT) and webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2012. During this call representatives from the DME MAC Provider Outreach & Education Team will give a presentation regarding recent updates and hot topics followed by an operator assisted question and answer period. The call will begin promptly at 10:30a.m. EST and last for one and a half hours.
EXETER, Penn., Nov. 8, 2012—Pride Mobility Products Corporation, along with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), is pleased to announce the unveiling of a one of a kind mobility scooter customized by iconic car designer Chip Foose. The scooter, a Victory® ES 10, was unveiled on Nov.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 7, 2012—Due to the effects of the superstorm that has crippled many areas in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will issue guidance to its contractors to temporarily suspend all audit activity for a period of at least 30 days. The CMS directive is effective immediately.
ATLANTA, Nov. 7, 2012—Two industry leaders, Medical Electronic Attachment (MEA), the recognized leader in secure exchange of health information, and The van Halem Group, a leading national Medicare consulting and auditing firm, have announced an agreement to provide MEA’s FastAttach, an esMD (electronic submission of medical documentation) solution, to DME providers.
WATERLOO, Iowa, Nov. 9, 2012—HME industry veteran Ronda Buhrmester has joined U.S. Rehab/VGM Group, Inc., as a reimbursement specialist. She is a certified respiratory therapist and a certified mastectomy fitter and comes to VGM from VGM member Iroquois Home Care, Inc., an independent hospital-affiliated DME, and Iroquois Memorial Hospital, Watseka, Ill.
New York, Nov. 8, 2012—Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers affected by Hurricane Sandy are being granted additional time beyond the December 7, 2012 deadline to make a health and prescription drug plan selection. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is granting this extension of the Medicare Open Enrollment Period in order to give beneficiaries and their families adequate time and presence of mind to fully weigh the scope of their health care needs.
NEW YORK, N.Y., Nov. 8, 2012—According to the newly released 2012 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services and Home Care Costs, conducted for the 10th year by the MetLife Mature Market Institute, national average rates for long-term care in the U.S. continue to rise. The average cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home rose 3.7 percent in 2012, from $214 daily or $78,110 annually in 2011, to $222 or $81,030 annually.
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., Nov. 8, 2012—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently initiated a number of audit programs in its attempt to diminish payment errors and fraud. Responding to pre- and post-payment RAC, CERT and ZPIC audits can take a toll on a provider’s businesses both in time and monetary resources. The negative effects to DME providers in wasted employee effort and interruption to cash flow can be profound.
SUNRISE, Fla., Nov. 1, 2012—Louis Feuer, nationally known industry customer service expert, celebrates year two of his dynamic MEDCOMMENT CENTER (MCC) program, the only customer engagement tool in the home-care industry dedicated to listening to referral sources and patients. “This has become a word-of-mouth growth process developing,” he said, “upgrading and refining a product with recommendations from our customers.”
RAC University will present the webcast “Preparing for Audits and Investigations: Learn How to Respond to a Knock on Your Door or a Call at the Office” Thursday Dec. 6, 2012, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET.
Would your coder know what to do if government agents were to visit their home one evening? How would they respond to an unexpected phone call from an auditor? The prospect is chilling and frightening.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 31, 2012—According to the American Association for Homecare, dozens of home medical equipment providers on the Eastern Seaboard are in full emergency response mode as power outages, downed trees and wires and flooding complicate their ability to get medical oxygen and other home medical equipment and services to seniors and people with disabilities.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 29, 2012—AG Industries is proud to announce the addition of Jo Anna Dvorak to its team as the national sales manager and clinical director of the Homecare Division. Formerly of Tiara Medical Systems/CareFusion and an expert in the home-care market, she brings more than 20 years of home care and clinical experience to her new role.
ROCKY HILL, Conn., Nov. 1, 2012—ATG Rehab has purchased the assets of Marshall Mobility Plus, a supplier of wheelchairs and related equipment that works with 30 clinical facilities and over 300 clients across Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.
ANAHEIM, Calif., Nov. 1, 2012—Mark Wels, president of MK Battery, has announced organizational changes to the company’s home medical equipment (HME) business segment. Dennis Sharpe has been appointed as global director, HME Business and Bret Tracy has joined the company as associate director, HME Business.