IWWG Recommends Change of Policy

The Interagency Wheelchair Work Group (IWWG) has received support from a Clinician Task Force to replace the “bed or chair confined” criteria for qualifying Medicare beneficiaries with a more functional standard.

“This is a step in the right direction for clinicians, their patients, and advocates for people with disabilities,” says Laura Cohen, PhD, PT, ATP, co-coordinator of the Clinician Task Force of the Coalition to Modernize Medical Coverage of Mobility.

According to Cohen, the criteria for Medicare should be based on permitting a level of safe and efficient mobility that allows a patient to remain integrated into society and the workforce, allows a patient to continue to live with family, therefore avoiding premature institutionalization, or allows a patient to minimize the need for caregiver assistance for mobility-related tasks that can be accomplished independently.

Clinicians and advocates for people with disabilities view the “in-home” requirement as being in direct conflict with clinical practice and public policy. According to them, the requirement fails to recognize benefits that come from allowing a person with limited mobility to go beyond their home to shop for groceries and medicine, do their banking, or go to appointments.

“Medicare shouldn’t be restricting access to mobility technologies based on what is required solely for in-home mobility,” says Barbara Crane, PhD, PT, ATP, co-coordinator of the Clinician Task Force. “This restriction conflicts with standard clinical practice, clinical evidence, and public policy. It is critical for people with disabilities to get around in their communities and be as active as possible.”

Clinicians say the debate over the coverage policy is focused on important issues. Before a new policy can be implemented, they say, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will need to specify clear documents for medical necessity, link levels of function by the beneficiary to the specific equipment required, and specify key terms to avoid misinterpretation of the coverage criteria.

Spectrasoft Awarded Customer Service Award

Frost & Sullivan has presented its 2004 Customer Service Leadership Award to Spectrasoft Inc, for demonstrating excellence in customer service leadership within the software solutions industry.

“We believe Spectrasoft will continue to meet the needs of their customers with new innovations and by offering a superior price-value solution than the larger vendors in the market,” says Vivek Subramany, Frost & Sullivan industry analyst.

Frost & Sullivan awarded the prize to Spectrasoft based on a number of factors, including the company’s technology and services, responsiveness to customer needs, new innovations, and promotional support.

Extensive research conducted by Frost & Sullivan found that Spectrasoft provided functionality at a cost typically $400,000 to $600,000 less than other bids in the industry for large enterprises such as at a hospital. In addition, Spectrasoft customers are able to get up to speed using the software within a week’s time.

Spectrasoft initially focused on physical therapy applications, and it has since expanded its product line to meet the needs of health care practices, hospitals, and government agencies.

Altimate Medical Announces Changes to Funding Guide

The new Funding Guide for Standing Technology assists clinicians with providing payor sources with accurate, concise documentation to support the medical needs of their clients.  This 5th Edition Funding Guide includes information on the new HCPCS code for sit to stand standers, three new supporting articles, additional letters of medical necessity and many helpful websites.  The funding guide is published by Altimate Medical, makers of EasyStand and Ovation products, to help with the process of assessment and the written letter of medical necessity for assistive technology products.

 Nancy Perlich, Reimbursement Specialist at Altimate Medical and the editor of the Funding Guide to Standing Technology, states, “It is vital that consumers continue to self advocate to ensure current and future access to correct standing technology.” Perlich continues, “Altimate Medical supports consumer advocacy by providing clinicians, suppliers and consumers with resources such as the funding hotline and funding guide.”

Altimate Medical manufactures standing technology that focuses on health and independence for kids and adults with disabilities.  To receive a complimentary copy of the new Funding Guide for Standing Technology in print or CD-ROM format, please contact Altimate Medical at 800-342-8968 or visit their website at www.easystand.com.

SwimEx Appoints Company President 

SwimEx, the manufacturer of aquatic therapy and conditioning pools and equipment, has appointed Rudy A. Mutter as president of the Rhode Island-based company.

Mutter brings to SwimEx more than 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, manufacturing, and materials management. Since 2001, Mutter has served as executive vice president of Sherle Wagner International (a private manufacturer of upper-end hardware and home furnishings). Prior to that, he was division president  of Milton Holdings  Inc in Warwick, RI. In 1986, Mutter joined Cookson America, where he grew his position to operations manager.

As president of SwimEx, Mutter’s responsibilities include the day-to-day operation of the company’s business, strategic planning, budgeting, and financial reporting.

Web Site Consolidates Product and Pricing Information

Purchasing agents, material and  operating managers, and physicians who work for hospitals, outpatient clinics, and private practices are taking advantage of Medizaar.com, where they can  obtain detailed information and pricing on tens of thousands of  products ranging from anoscopes to ultrasound machines.

“Our goal is to provide the health care community with an objective, unbiased source of information so that health care product purchasers can make quicker, more informed and most cost effective purchasing decisions,” says Jim Restivo, chief executive officer of Blue Angel Technologies, which launched the site.

According to Restivo, Medizaar.com employs a staff of professional catalogers who review and organize vast amounts of medical product information to provide users with the most efficient, up-to-date shopping resource on the Web.

“One interesting aspect of our site is that because of its browse catalog, users often discover products they weren’t even aware of before visiting,” says Restivo. “The pricing information is also very useful. We have developed technology that automatically checks the vendor’s site every day to capture the latest pricing chain, providing purchasers of medical equipment and suppliers with a free resource of unbiased information from the widest possible range of sources.”

Medizaar.com features more than 10,000 products, with more than 40,000 prices. It also features a discussion board where users can seek advice from other health care professionals, and view comments and reviews made on the products by other site visitors.

Symmetry Medical Completes Major Facility Expansions

Symmetry Medical Inc. (NYSE: SMA), an independent provider of products to orthopedic device manufacturers, announced today the completion of major facility expansions including two existing facilities and the development of two new facilities. The total cost of the expansions and development was $8.5 million, all of which has been previously financed.  The expansions and development of the company’s facilities included the the addition of 9,000 square feet to Symmetry’s  Avilla, IN trauma and spine instrument and implant facility, as well as addition of 22,000 square feet of space to  the Company’s Sheffield, UK facility for the production of knee, hip and  shoulder implants. The opening of a new, 22,500 square foot facility for knee instrument design and manufacturing in Claypool, IN was also announced.  

Boston University Teams Up With ReDoc Software

The Rehab Documentation Company (TRDC), maker of ReDoc Software, and the Health and Disability Research Institute of Boston University (BU) have entered into a Collaboration Agreement to refine, collect, aggregate, and research data from the field to help advance outcomes analysis and evidence-based practices pertaining to rehabilitation therapy.

“It is an exciting time for the rehab professions,” says Gerry Stone, PT, MEd, GCS, and president and founder of TRDC. “It’s the exact point in history when health care meets information technology and starts to reap its enormous benefits. It is an honor for ReDoc Software to be affiliated with such a prestigious and influential institution as Boston University.”

TRDC will provide expertise to BU with regard to Unified Medical Language Sytems, Health Level 7, and other health care information systems.

BU’s mission through its Health and Disability Research Institute is to advance, preserve, disseminate, and apply knowledge in the health and rehabilitation sciences. BU will provide the TRDC with information pertaining to the World Health Organization’s Classification of functioning, disability, and health, along with activities leading toward standardized vocabulary and evidence-based practice of therapy.