Archive: September 2009

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Provider Marty Falk knows a business opportunity when he sees one. Helping Hand Medical Supply recently signed contracts with three skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to do CPAP set-ups. It was a natural fit for the company, which already provides DME and respiratory products and services in SNFs. "They were trying to do it on their own and their outcomes weren't really that good," said Falk, a partner. "We just do the technical set-up and monitor that, take the oxygen readings...

Q. I'm having trouble getting employees on board with the culture changes I am making. Now what? A. This statement needs to be in front of you at all times: An event should start a process for continual growth. Your commitment to making a cultural change is the "event." The process involved in making it become continual growth is determined by the training and accountability you provide, as well as the innovation and creativity you allow. As a leader, you are responsible for: clarifying expectations;...

I was talking to the folks over at the National Home Infusion Association yesterday. Sen. Max Baucus' admission that Congress needs to do something about the lack of Medicare coverage for home infusion is a "step forward," said executive director Russ Bodoff. "It's always nice when the chairman of the finance committee recognizes the need for the fix," he added. The next step is getting a revised CBO score that demonstrates the true costs of home infusion therapy, as well as the savings...

The Scooter Store today joined a growing group of industry stakeholders that are taking the OIG to task for a report claiming the power mobility industry enjoys enormous profits. That's "laughable," says Doug Harrison, CEO and founder. The OIG, he says, overlooks these services associated with doing business with Medicare: ➢    Customer Intake, Education and Interaction ➢    Documentation Collection and Management ➢    Delivery Set Up, Service, Warehousing,...

ARLINGTON, Va. - HME providers have until next month to comply with a new federal regulation that requires them to have in place processes and procedures to prevent identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission delayed the rule's start date in late July from Aug. 1 to Nov. 1, 2009. The reason for the delay: to give companies more time to develop and implement their programs. Fortunately, for most, that should not be a challenge, industry attorney Asela Cuervo said July 23 during an AAHomecare teleconference:...

Like most HME providers, Frank Margulis thought he understood the rules. Then he was charged with obstructing a Medicare audit. In 2005, he was sentenced to five months in a federal prison camp and five months of house arrest. Now a free man, Margulis will share his story during his Medtrade session, “Avoiding Legal Landmines: Lessons Learned the Hard Way.” HME News: What was the basis of the lawsuit? Frank Margulis: When we gathered CMNs for a routine audit, we noticed that only the...

From subcontracting to Medicaid audits, a number of legal issues have appeared on the radar screens of industry attorneys. Here's what they say HME providers should be aware of: Asela Cuervo, Law Office of Asela Cuervo, Washington, D.C. As if Medicare audits weren't stressful enough. CMS recently told its contractors to give little leeway when it comes to medical necessity documentation. The new policy has been in the works for a while, but it also addresses concerns raised in an OIG report earlier...

TAMPA, Fla. - When it comes to helping HME providers expand into the growing home modifications business, Enable Me is as close to a one-stop shop as you're likely to find, said Jerry Keiderling, president of The VGM Group's U.S. Rehab. "It's not only based on a wide assortment of good quality product, the technical education is tremendous," Keiderling said. The Web-based Enable Me (www.enableme.com) launched in April, but its coming out party was VGM's Heartland Conference in June. Enable Me...

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Upstate HomeCare opened a retail pharmacy in June, but the provider does not plan to compete with the Walgreens of the world. "We're looking to take care of the sickest of the sick," said Greg LoPresti, vice president and COO. "We want the patients that have from 10 to 40 prescriptions from (multiple) prescribers. When you have that many prescribers, you're chance of medication errors goes up exponentially. We are looking to be their one pharmacy." Upstate patients can order...

AKRON, Ohio - Robert Gurinowitsch discovered the home modification business by accident, but since hanging out his shingle in 2006, there's been nothing accidental about his growth, which has averaged 15% to 20% a year. "It's been steady," said Gurinowitsch, a former insurance restoration specialist with a long background in construction. "We kept around 1,500 people home last year from going to care facilities, and the year before that it was 900 or so." Gurinowitsch expects his company, Life...