Features


Round Two Reaction

Business Solutions

Round Two Reaction

CMS's announcement of the Round Two reimbursement rates has left the industry reeling. HMEB talks to various experts to get their insights and perspectives on where HME goes from here.

Home Sleep Testing

Sleep

Re-examining HST

As HME providers look for additional revenue streams, they are giving home sleep testing a second look. Can it be a viable service?

Respiratory Therapist Obstacle Course

Respiratory Survey 2013

Respiratory Obstacle Course

The results of RSM’s Fourth Annual Respiratory Survey are in, and competitive bidding once again tops the list as the single biggest challenge facing RTs. What other challenges do they face and opportunities do they perceive?

HME Mergers and Aquisitions

Business Solutions

For Sale by Owner

Whether due to funding pressures, or simple expansion and competition, HME providers will see an increase in mergers and acquisition activity. What should both buyers and sellers know about the HME M&A market and the acquisition process?

Re-Examining HST

As HME providers look for additional revenue streams, they are giving home sleep testing a second look. Can it be a viable service?

HME Customers

Products & Technology

Calling All Customers!

Reaching out to patients on a more regular basis not only improves relationships and therapy compliance, but it also can drive new revenue to the bottom line through marketing, orders and collections. The problem is that calling up patients can be incredibly costly in terms of employee hours. How can providers automate the process?

HME Retail

Business Solutions

Where the Retail Rubber Meets the Road

For many years, providers have been hearing the reasons why they need to expand into cash sales to drive new revenues, and have been learning ways they can accomplish that. But what about the real world lessons providers are learning about retail? We interview various providers with retail track records to get their insights into cash sales.

Round Two of Competitive Bidding

2013: The Year Ahead

Hoping for the Best, Planning for te Worst

Round Two of Competitive Bidding could radically redefine the HME industry if it starts rolling out in July. Here’s what you need to consider.

HME Big Ten

2013: The Year Ahead

Big Ten

It's that's time of the year again: The HMEB Big Ten. In the sixth annual edition of our list, we look at 10 key trends, challenges and opportunites that will define the next 12 months for HME providers.

Power Mobility

Business Solutions

Power Mobility Preview: Coming Into Focus

There are a number of regulatory and public policy issues that will impact power mobility providers in the coming year: competitive bidding Round Two; the effort to replace competitive bidding with the MPP; the prior authorization demonstration project; and the effort to make complex rehab a separate benefit. We review their impact on the industry and how providers should approach them.



Oxygen

Business Solutions

Soliving the Oxygen Puzzle

Respiratory providers face a tricky problem they must untangle: how do they continue serving patients in a way that ensures the kind of solid therapy compliance that will foster positive outcomes when their funding continues to be cut? We look at some of the tools and techniques providers are successfully leveraging to solve this puzzle.

Power Mobility

Business Solutions

Power Mobility Preview: Coming Into Focus

There are a number of regulatory and public policy issues that will impact power mobility providers in the coming year: competitive bidding Round Two; the effort to replace competitive bidding with the MPP; the prior authorization demonstration project; and the effort to make complex rehab a separate benefit. We review their impact on the industry and how providers should approach them.

Annual Software Roundup: The Fine Art of Being Prepared

Products & Technology

Annual Software Roundup: The Fine Art of Being Prepared

Providers are in for a tough 2013, and no business asset can better help them prepare for the coming year than their information systems. Once again we survey various software packages to see how they can help HMEs prepare for whatever 2013 has in store, whether it's competitive biding Round Two or the continued assault of CMS audits.

HME Hospitality

Business Solutions

HME Hospitality

Home access and ensuring home safety represent an important market opportunity for providers to expand their businesses while tapping into their existing patient and referral partner relationships. The challenge lies in ensuring they can meet the unique needs of various patient groups. We look at how HMEs can lay out a welcome mat that appeals to all of their patients.

Round Two: Bracing for 2013

Industry Roundtable

Round Two: Bracing for 2013

The coming year promises a rough ride for the industry. Providers face many issues: competitive bidding Round Two; the fight to replace it with the MPP; the continued assault of pre- and post-payment audits; the pending face-to-face rule; and pior authorization for power mobility to name just a few. HMEB’s editorial advisory board discuss these issues and more and share their insights on how providers should approach 2013.

Taking the Bite Out of Oxygen Documentation

Audits

Taking the Bite Out of Oxygen Documentation

Although the denial rate may be improving, oxygen audits continue to challenge and frustrate providers. How can providers become oxygen audit ready?

Solving Sleep Success

Business Solutions

Solving Sleep Success

Despite having to hurdle audits, competitive bidding, caps and cuts, the sleep industry continues to grow. We look at how some sleep providers are solving these problems and formulating successful business strategies.

2013: Respiratory and Sleep Outlook

Looking Ahead

2013: A Respiratory and Sleep Outlook

HME document management

Products & Technology

The HME Paper Chase

As providers continue to contend with the thorny issue of Medicare audits, they are implementing policies and procedures to ensure they have iron-clad documentation. How are they using document management systems to both mitigate the impact of audits, and maximize their operational effectiveness, as well?

Rethinking Support Surfaces

Business Solutions

Rethinking Support Surfaces

Increasingly, providers of support surfaces need to look at how they provision services both from a therapeutic perspective and a business standpoint. This is even more true now that Group 2 support surfaces are part of Round Two of competitive bidding. How can support surface provides make a difference in not only their patients' lives, but also the bottom line?

HME Business Podcast