CLEARWATER, Fla., July 2, 2012—Linde AG, a German company specializing in industrial gases, has entered an agreement for the acquisition of Lincare Holdings, Inc., a leading U.S. provider of respiratory therapy, oxygen and other home medical services, for a cash offer of $4.6 billion.
HomeCare News
DALLAS, Texas, July 3, 2012—Kevin Hill, president of the Texas Alliance for Home Care Services (TAHCS), has named Barry Johnson executive director of the organization. He is the immediate past president of TAHCS and also serves as the legislative director. Johnson is expected to continue his position as legislative director. He is a founding member of TAHCS and serves as an at-large member of the board of directors. www.tahcs.org
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, July 3, 2012—The Scooter Store, a leading provider of power mobility equipment and services, announced that Martin “Marty” J. Landon has been named the company’s chief executive officer. He replaces board member J. Randall Bishop, who had served as interim CEO since March 2012 and will remain on the board.
WATERLOO, Iowa, June 25, 2012–VGM Group, Inc., is planning “Round 1 Recompete” seminars in September and the first week in October for the nine original competitive bidding areas—Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas City, Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh and Riverside, Calif. CMS expects to re-bid these areas this fall with several new DME items and “consolidation” of original product categories. Seminars will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
BOZEMAN, Mont., July 1, 2012—The Comfort Company announced it has partnered with Prairie View Industries (PVI) to offer a complete line of PVI access products through its direct sales force. The products will complement Comfort Company’s current line of wheelchair accessories and PDG wheelchairs.
WATERLOO, Iowa, June 27, 2012—Milo Schmidt has been named VGM and Associates’ regional account manager of the year. Schmidt’s territory consists of Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon and Washington. He’s been with VGM for eight years, and has worked in sales or sales management for HME manufacturers for most of his career. Visit www.vgm.com.
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2012—The Department of Health and Human Services has launched its Innovation Fellows Program, which is intended to attract outside expertise to accelerate health care innovation. One goal of the program is to develop technology that would allow individuals with electronic durable medical equipment to continue using these devices during prolonged power outages. Applications for the program are due by July 20.
MIAMI, Fla., June 21, 2012—Progressive Care, Inc., and its subsidiary PharmCo LLC—a provider of prescription pharmaceuticals specializing in anti-retroviral patient care, long term care and durable medical equipment—conducted its First Annual National HIV Testing Day Event on June 27 in Opa-locka, Fla. The event coincided with the 17th annual National HIV Testing Day. Go to www.progressivecareus.com.
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2012—Three members of Congress have sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) asking for a briefing on allegations that the Cuban government may be involved in HME fraud in South Florida.
ATLANTA, June 28, 2012—Nielsen Expositions is allotting 4,500 square feet for a Home and Retail Design Center on the Expo floor of Medtrade this fall to put greater emphasis on retail sales.
Kevin Gaffney, group show director for Medtrade, said demand has steadily increased for retail options, and that will be reflected this year with the Home and Retail Design Center and appropriate seminars. “The time is right for a more robust retail focus,” he said.
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2012—The American Association for Homecare (www.aahomecare.org) has provided comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) saying the agency should require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce the audit burden and improve the quality and utility of the information its contractors collect.
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2012—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has scheduled a public meeting for July 23 to discuss adjustments in Medicare payments for non-mail order diabetes supplies through a controversial “inherent reasonableness” process.
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2012—Members of a Senate committee that oversees Medicare have sent a letter to the Government Accounting Office asking for an investigation of MAC, RAC, ZPIC and CERT auditors.
WASHINGTON, June 28. 2012—The U.S. Supreme Court upheld major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, but placed restrictions on the government’s planned expansion of Medicaid.
By a 5-4 vote, the high court ruled that the individual mandate was constitutional because it was created as a reasonable income tax penalty levied to encourage “shared responsibility.”
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2012—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a final decision memo stating that it will discontinue most coverage of TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) devices for the treatment of chronic lower back pain.
VERO BEACH, Fla., June 14, 2012—Home Health International, Inc., announces it will expand its medical supply business to include an online store where consumers can purchase discounted home and medical supplies. The company is selecting the marketing team to build out the online store and plans to have the new website online within 60 days. Home Health International Inc.
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2012—Paralyzed Veterans of America announced that Invacare Corp. is sponsoring the National Veterans Wheelchair Games—taking place in Richmond, Va., today through Friday—for the 32nd consecutive year. Throughout the games, Invacare employees volunteer to ensure that the veteran athletes’ wheelchairs are competition ready. Visit www.invacare.com.
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2012—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a reminder last week that the enforcement discretionary period for upgrading to Version 5010 ends Sunday, July 1. Originally, all HIPAA-covered entities doing business with CMS were required to upgrade to Version 5010 by Jan. 1, but CMS provided additional time to meet full compliance with transaction standards for ASC X12 Version 5010 and NCPDP Versions D.0 and 3.0. www.cms.gov.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 12, 2012—The Ohio Hospital Association has presented a Health Care Leadership Award to A. Malachi “Mal” Mixon III, chairman of the board and retired CEO of Invacare Corp. of Elyria, Ohio. The association made the presentation at its 11th annual Recognition Dinner. The award honors leaders in Ohio health care. Go to www.invacare.com.
WASHINGTON, June 19, 2012—U.S. employers are paying an average of $2.60 per hour to provide health benefits to employees, according to a report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The cost reported was for the month of March 2012, and was based on a survey conducted four times a year to estimate wages, salaries and benefits paid to U.S. workers.