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Providers

News about HME providers and homecare companies, including expansions, acquisitions and business milestones.

  • VGM Heartland Attendees Tackle Industry Challenges

    More than 450 providers, 225 manufacturers and 50 speakers gathered in the heart of farm country June 1-4 to talk about doing more with less, increasing operational efficiencies and tackling Medicare reimbursement challenges. The VGM Group’s Heartland Conference in Waterloo, Iowa, included tracks focusing on HME, respiratory, rehab and technical training. On June 4, VGM hosted Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, who played a key role in hammering out a Medicare reform compromise last year. “Much to my consternation, there were changes to the durable medical equipment program,” Grassley told an audience at a fund-raiser luncheon. “The House was determined to implement immediate competitive bidding across the board for DME.” Although the Senate ultimately lost the fight to keep competitive…
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  • Industry Reaction

    “The tenor of the hearing was not anti-[HME] industry. It was more anti-CMS than anything else, [with testimony describing] how they allowed this [power wheelchair] fraud and abuse to happen. The other good news is that what CMS announced … was very much in line with industry recommendations. They’re going to create more codes. It’s nice to have such recognition from the government.” — Cara Bachenheimer, vice president of government relations, Invacare Corp., Elyria, Ohio “My overall reaction is disappointment, but not surprise. I think we as an industry have a real PR issue that we need to address quickly. For the most part, the good suppliers are being painted with the same brush as those who were fraudulent. “I believe we need to work…
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  • Editor’s Inbox

    Charitable Approach Responding to comments in reference to “Scooter Store Lays Off 200” (February 2003), Volunteers of America of Texas, in our due diligence prior to engaging with The Scooter Store, found them to be very honorable. We have since worked together to distribute refurbished power chairs to several needy clients. Their work with the low-income, underserved community was done with grace and compassion. — David A. North, president/CEO, Volunteers of America of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas Strength in Numbers In the information I submitted for the Top Providers report (April 2004), I inadvertently listed our full-time employees as 7 instead of 117. Each of the 117 employees deserves recognition for their part in our success. They have seen the company go from $2 million…
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  • HomeCaring Award 2004

    Given in recognition of distinguished service to the home medical equipment industry, HomeCare magazine’s prestigious HomeCaring Awards honor those whose dedication and commitment — in any aspect of the industry — defines the “caring” that HME is all about. This year, we invite you to nominate any individual who you feel has made a true difference in HME. And don’t just tell us who they are — tell us why they deserve the HomeCaring Award. Your nominations may recognize a lifetime of quiet, dedicated service to a small community miles from the nearest metropolis. Or you may point out a person whose pursuit of excellence in service or advocacy has had a national impact. The entries will be judged by a panel of industry professionals…
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  • Industry Calendar

    JUNE 10-11 Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) Annual Meeting Washington, D.C. 202/496-7150 www.medicaldevices.org 15-17 Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) Conference and Expo Las Vegas 703/787-0000 www.healthcaredistribution.org 15-19 Case Management Society of America (CMSA) Nashville Conference Nashville, Tenn. 800/216-2672 www.cmsa.org 16-18 America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) 2004 Institute Chicago 877/291-2247 www.aahp.org 16-18 Wisconsin Association of Medical Equipment Services (WAMES) Annual Convention and Trade Show Waukesha, Wis. (Milwaukee) 715/366-7500 www.wames.org 17 California Association of Medical Product Suppliers (CAMPS) HME Exemptee Licensure Training Program Los Angeles 916/443-2115 www.campsone.org 18-20 American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Summer Forum Vail, Colo. 972/243-2272 www.aarc.org 18-22 Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) 27th International Conference Orlando, Fla. 703/524-6686 www.resna.org 30-July 3 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Physical Therapy…
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  • Provider NewsWire

    Apria Acquires Housecall Business Apria Healthcare, Lake Forest, Calif., has acquired Knoxville, Tenn.-based Housecall Medical Resources’ respiratory therapy, HME and infusion locations in Tennessee and Florida. Housecall CEO John Heller said the transaction will help fund growth of Housecall’s core businesses, home health nursing and hospice. Eckerd Goes to Jean Coutu, CVS JCPenney will sell its Eckerd drugstore operations for $4.5 billion. The Jean Coutu Group, based in Quebec, will acquire 1,539 Eckerd drugstores and facilities in 13 states in the Northeast and Middle Atlantic, as well as the Eckerd home office in Florida, for $2.375 billion. CVS, Woonsocket, R.I., will acquire 1,260 Eckerd stores in the remaining southern states, principally Florida and Texas, along with Eckerd Health Services, the drug chain’s $1 billion pharmacy…
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  • Texas Providers Form Rehab Council

    Houston A group of Texas businesses and disability advocates have formed the Greater Texas Rehab Provider’s Council (TXRPC). Spurred by potential budget cuts in Medicaid and Medicare funding, TXPC will create “an open forum for consumers, equipment providers and manufacturers” to provide a collective voice in legislative, budget and agency issues, the organization announced. “The need for a Texas forum has never been greater,” said Ron Kieschnik, TXRPC president and president of Houston-based Seating Profiles. “Statewide issues such as the reorganization of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the transition to a new claims-processing agent for the Texas Medicaid program and the implementation of the new HIPAA standardized billing codes present unique challenges.” Besides Kieschnik, founding council members include Chris Yule, president and CEO…
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  • Editor’s Inbox

    Room with a View [Regarding the Dallas power wheelchair scheme (“Texas Déjà Vu,” March 2004)], it turns out I actually sold a case of bedpans to one of the defendants. When I visited him, I couldn’t figure out why he was doing so much mobility business out of a lousy, windowless office in a cheap, shared office suite in an awful location. At least in prison, he’ll get a window! — Janet White, Rehab Exchange/DME Depot LLC, Richardson, Texas Not a Dirty Word As an industry, we need to start standing tough when it comes to reimbursement issues. We are quick to say how much our services are worth when we are talking to payers and legislators, then we accept contracts that don’t even cover…
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  • Suburban Success Story

    For a young DME company based in Stockbridge, Ga., location and careful demographic profiling have been the foundation for rapid growth. New housing developments are springing up in the small town located in Henry County, 25 miles south of Atlanta, virtually overnight. Based on a December 2003 demographic profile, the county is the third fastest-growing county in the United States and the fastest-growing county in Georgia. “A lot of people are moving to the South and working in Atlanta, but they don’t want to live in the city,” explains Darren Tarleton, president and CEO of Mobility Warehouse. The idea for Mobility Warehouse came from the owners of a local Stockbridge pharmacy. The four owners of Moye’s Pharmacy, a five-store, 28-year-old Henry County business and household…
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  • CHAD Names New CEO

    Chatsworth, Calif. Respiratory manufacturer CHAD Therapeutics has named Earl L. Yager president and CEO. Previously president, CFO and secretary, Yager succeeds Thomas E. Jones, who had been CEO since 1998 and who will remain as chairman of the board. “CHAD’s board is pleased to name Earl Yager as chief executive officer, a position he is well-equipped to fill with distinction,” Jones said. “[Yager] has repeatedly demonstrated his leadership and effectiveness in managing the business. He has made critical contributions to our strategy to enhance CHAD’s leadership in the conserver segment of the oxygen therapy market and to enter new growth markets in oxygen therapy and related fields. His efforts to increase manufacturing efficiency, improve margins and reduce costs also have met with success.” Yager, a…
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  • AHIP Announces New Name, Agenda

    The recently merged American Association of Health Plans-Health Insurance Association of America has announced a new name, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), and released an updated policy agenda. The group said it will promote access to affordable, quality health care through measures intended to parlay medical research into treatments and to make health payments more commensurate with health care performance. AHIP’s members provide health insurance to more than 200 million people. For breaking news, go to www.homecaremonday.com, the electronic news service of the home medical equipment industry.
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  • Providers Support PWC Pre-Approval Process

    Baltimore At a March 3 Open Door Forum on Medicare’s power wheelchair benefit, several mobility providers supported an idea proposed to CMS: a pre-approval process for K0011 claims. One provider advised the agency to “institute a 100-percent, pre-delivery approval of the equipment before the dealer purchases it, delivers it and has to fight you for it. If it’s a legitimate, valid claim, tell us up front. Nobody wants to process a claim that’s not good.” For breaking news, go to www.homecaremonday.com, the electronic news service of the home medical equipment industry.
    Read More →: Providers Support PWC Pre-Approval Process

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