HME News is the monthly business newspaper for home medical equipment providers. This controlled circulation publication reaches 17,100 home medical equipment services providers, including traditional HME dealers & suppliers, hospital- and pharmacy-o
Issue link: https://hme.epubxp.com/i/682935
Providers hme news / june 2016 / www.hmenews.com 13 Heavy Duty 450lb weight capacity Four post quick release seating system Full suspension with 7" casters 14" drive tires for maximum comfort & performance Optional 75Ah batteries for extended range 3" ground clearance (8 8 8) 8 9 6 - 8 8 6 6 www.shoprider.com /shopridermobilit y /shopridermobilit y /shopridermobile Not your average Power Chair! K0825 By TraCy orzel, associate editor KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Able Care Health Equipment in Kansas City, Mo., was recently selected to take part in a new demo project that pro- vides a more interactive process for resolving claims at Medicare's second level of appeals. The demo, launched in Janu- ary by C2C Innovative Solutions, Medicare's Qualifed Independent Contractor or QIC, allows provid- ers to speak with a reconsideration professional by phone to try and resolve their cases. Jason Hood, CFO of Able Care Health Equipment, spoke to HME News about his experience. hme News: What made you want to go through this process? Jason Hood: We reached out to Andrea Stark (a reimbursement consultant with MiraVista) to see what she had heard about this and she said, "Yes, this is absolutely a good thing. It's going to relieve some of the administrative law judge cases sitting there waiting to be heard." The current system is kind of slow, so any way that you can speed that up is worth a shot. QIC demo sets 'different tone' hme: What was the claim about? Hood: Ours was an oxygen patient. It was a simple error. We needed a physician to sign off on a change that was made. He didn't do it— one of his offce staff did. So we sent the corrected documentation, along with our acceptance form to participate in the demo. We wait- ed about a week and a half before (C2C) called. It was pretty cut and dry as far as, "This is what we were missing, but you've got it now." In 10 days, I had a decision letter in my hand that they accepted the documentation and the claim was going to be paid. hme: Is this a viable alternative to the ALJ? Hood: I think this could defnitely help alleviate the ALJ (backlog). If you can talk this through instead of sending a bunch of faxes back and forth, it really expedites the system and it's something that could help both sides look better. I think the other side is defnitely reaching out. It's a different tone and I think it's a tone that everyone can work with. hme: Does the program have any other benefts? Hood: From what I understood on the phone, if at all possible, they're going to try to (pair you with) the same auditor for lack of a better word, so there's a chance to build a rapport and for them to learn about you and your company, and make their own decision whether you are a good, ethical company. hme BROAdBENT coNTINueD fRoM pRevIouS pAGe location in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The provider offers a full line of home medical and respiratory equipment, bath safety prod- ucts, lifts and wheelchairs. The SBA award is a testament to the hard work of not only Broadbent and his employees, but also the HME industry, he says. "We are so heavily regu- lated—they are just squeezing every drop of blood out of the HME industry," he said. "But, that's forcing us to be more innovative and look at better ways to do things." Broadbent and SBA award winners from the other 49 states and the U.S. territories were honored during ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on May 1 and 2. hme Jason Hood NEw BIz coNTINueD fRoM pRevIouS pAGe After being open for a year, one of the biggest successes of the business has been with bath safety products—especially the installa- tion segment, Leahy said. "The best part is that it allows me to build relationships with my cus- tomers. It has led to a lot of add-on sales and a loyal client base." hme