Page 10 - HME Business, December 2017

News / Trends / Analysis
Home Mods
Committee
Goes National
HMAC aims to create a uni ed advocacy and educational platform to help home access modi cation businesses.
The Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services (MAMES) has expanded its home modi cation accessibility committee (HMAC) to include companies throughout the nation.
Now companies that provide home modi cation solutions can join the MAMES committee to share concerns impacting their business. The move to take the membership national is aimed at devel- oping a consistent advocacy platform when it comes issues impacting home access businesses.
“This is a great opportunity for our state associa- tions to work together and develop a louder voice for businesses in HMA,” said Rose Schafhauser, executive director of MAMES. “By joining our HMAC, their members will bene t from networking with other HMAs that are not necessarily competi- tion in their market. It also helps on the legislative front when states try to impose laws that restrict
PEOPLE IN HME
HMAs. We can provide tools and possibly resources to help in ghting or educating legislators on the importance of protecting the solutions our industry provides so people can live independently.”
DMEPOS Accounts
for Half of OMHA’s
ALJ Appeals
The number of audit appeals being escalated to ALJs has skyrocketed over the past scal year.
The total number of appeals at CMS’s Of ce of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) has exploded by 300 percent within this past year, with half of them being for DMEPOS claims, according to the American Association Homecare.
A total of 184,240 appeals sat at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) level at OMHA in FY2016, but by August of 2017 that number had ballooned to 591,962 appeals.
Moreover, as of last week, 291,047 of those ALJ-level appeals were for DMEPOS claims, an AAHomecare statement noted. Assuming that the tally of appeals was static from August’s total, this would mean DMEPOS appeals comprised 49 percent of that total.
That percentage would be consistent with audit totals from FY2015 and FY2016, in which DMEPOS accounted for 49 percent of ALJ-level appeals, as well, AAHomecare noted. n
The HMAC plans to provide educational, credentialing and advocacy to the home access modi cation market. Additionally, a key agenda item is to keep pushing H.R. 1780, The Senior Housing Act, through the legislative process.
“It’s been nearly a year since H.R. 1780 was introduced into Congress, and with a uni ed voice, through HMAC, our industry can lead the way in getting this monumental bill passed,” said Jim Greatorex, vice president of VGM Live at Home and chair of MAMES HMAC. “In the meantime, we will become more active on the state level.
“We are hearing from people all over the country that are having state licensing issues,”
he added. “HMAC will help us connect with our members so we can help address these challenges to change laws or provide other solutions so legit- imate companies have the ability to provide their services to help people live independently.”
Membership to join MAMES’ Home Modi cation Accessibility Committee is open to all HMAs and
is free for members of state associations. MAMES also offers an allied membership that allows those not belonging to a state/regional association to join for $300 a year.
Those seeking more information about HMAC can email info@mames.com, or call (651) 351-5395. n
Standup for Homecare Honors Sheehan
The American Association for Homecare honored industry advocate Gary Sheehan, president and CEO of Massachusetts-based Cape Medical Supply, with the 2017 Van Miller Homecare Champion Award at the recent Stand Up for Homecare reception.
The event was held Oct. 24, at the SkyLounge atop the Glenn Hotel in Atlanta, Ga. Attendees lled the venue, which overlooked Atlanta’s Olympic Centennial Park, to capacity. The night brought in $50,000, which funds AAHomecare’s campaign to raise the HME industry’s image and public awareness of the bene ts of HME.
“The guy is the real deal ... someone who advo- cates beyond belief for this industry,” said Steve Ackerman, CEO of Spectrum Medical Inc. and chairman of the board for AAHomecare, intro- ducing Sheehan.
“Advocacy is not an option — it’s a responsi- bility,” Sheehan said in his acceptance speech. “... Our patients need a voice.”
Barbara Smith Named 2017
HME Woman of the Year
The VGM Group selected Barbara Smith, chief executive of cer of Healthline Medical Equipment Inc. as the winner of the 2017 HME Woman of the Year award, which was presented to her at a ceremony held at the 2017 edition of Medtrade in Atlanta.
Smith was one of four nalists selected from
38 nominees. The other three nalists were
Lelia Wilkerson, director of Heritage Medical Equipment & Supplies; Rita Stanley, vice presi- dent of Government Relations for Sunrise Medical; and Maxine Paul, director of sales and operations for NuMotion, and formerly owner of Academy Medical Equipment Inc.
“I feel blessed that my contributions have been recognized by my peers, family and staff,” Smith said. “There are so many women out there doing great things in our industry.”
Smith has worked in the HME industry for
27 years, 25 of which have been at Healthline. During that time, Smith has been a advocate for
the industry, and is serving as president of the newly formed state association, TX MEP, which she helped create.
Meuser Runs for House
Dan Meuser, former executive at Pride Mobility Products Corp. and brother to current Pride Chairman and CEO Scott Meuser, is making a second bid for Congress.
Meuser has launched a campaign as a Republican to represent Pennsylvania’s 11th District, a House seat that will be left open now that Rep. Lou Barletta’s (R-Pa.) has decided to run for the Senate.
“I’m excited he [Barletta] is running for Senate and I will be supporting him 110 percent,” Meuser said.
Meuser left a 20-year career at Pride in 2008 to take his rst stab at running for Congress, but was defeated in the primaries. In 2011, then Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett nominated him to serve as Pennsylvania’s Revenue Secretary.
Watch a promotional video for Meuser’s campaign at vimeo.com/231610891. n
10 HMEBusiness | December 2017 | hme-business.com
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