Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/36987
■ Jodie Stogner and other ATPs applaud APTA’s recent motion recognizing complex rehab as a specialty. See story this page. ATG Rehab adds two rehab providers ................. 1 New NRRTS president ready to take the lead ......... 23 Wheelchair provision guide spells it all out ........... 24 Briefing connects rehab, HME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Mobility WWW.HMENEWS.COM / AUGUST 2011 / HME NEWS 23 BRIEFS RESNA launches redesigned website ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA launched a rede- signed website in July featuring a clean look and enhanced functionality. Members now have access to online communities and updated profiles. All visitors to the site now have access to a database of RESNA- certified individuals as well as educational resources. RESNA plans to add additional features such as a CEU tracking system and online applications for certification in the future. The address is www.resna.org. K0823 power wheelchair claims to face CMS prepayment reviews WASHINGTON – Noridian Administrative Services, the Jurisdiction D DME MAC, announced in June that it would start a “widespread” prepayment review on K0823 power wheelchairs and related op- tions and accessories. The reviews will determine the scope of potential prob- lems and monitor resolutions. Providers that are selected for prepayment review will receive an Additional Documentation Request letter. The Scooter Store expands to more than 200 partnerships NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – The Scooter Store signed eight new agreements in 2011, bringing its total part- nerships to more than 200, it announced June 22. The partner- ship contracts allow for more than 170 mil- lion people to obtain power mobility equip- ment from The Scoot- er Store through their Doug Harrison insurance plans. Doug Harrison, founder, president and CEO of the company, called the news “an important milestone for the company. Hasco Medical adds financing to mix Mobile, Ala. – Hasco Medical announced July 8 that G.E. Capital would finance Braun and VMI vehicles at the company’s Mobility Freedom dealerships. Hasco now has a $2.3 million credit line that will allow it to stock new makes and models on its showroom floors, according to a release. New mobility van on sale at Better Life Mobility SAN DIEGO – Better Life Mobility Center, a California-based retailer of vehicles, wheelchairs and lifts for the mobility indus- try, announced recently that it has in-stock and available for purchase the 2011 Honda Odyssey with Vantage Mobility Internation- al Northstar and Summit conversions. Bet- ter Life Mobility Center is among the first retailers in the country with the new Honda Odyssey in stock. USM cements ‘leading’ position in Kansas City with Advacare deal Branches in Wichita and Topeka also join USM ranks BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor ST. LOUIS – United Seating and Mobility (USM) announced its acquisition of Adva- care Mobility & Seating in June, bringing its total number of locations to 40. Advacare Mobility & Seating has 19 employees in three locations: Topeka, Kan., Wichita, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo. “We organize around basic strategic ini- tiatives,” said Bob Gouy, USM president and CEO. “One is to be in a marketplace where we can be a leading company.” Acquiring Advacare’s Kansas City location in particular fulfills that strategy, he said. USM already has a location in Kansas City, and the two facilities will merge, said Gouy, as will Advacare and USM’s facilities in Topeka. “We’re a pretty strong competitor in that market already,” said Gouy. “Advacare allowed us to consolidate and it really cements our position.” Bob Gouy Gouy plans to keep Advacare’s employees, transitioning them under the USM name. “Fortunately, we do business very similarly,” said Gouy. “It’s all about the patient, cus- tomer service and support in the field.” Gouy plans to switch the order processing systems to USM’s platform, saying the change will allow for more efficient paperwork pro- cess, but few other changes need to be made. “They’re a similar company—a long his- tory in the business, great employees—and we’re excited to bring them onto our team,” said Gouy. Jerry Stevens, president and founder of Advacare, will stay on as a director with the responsibility for acquisition integration. HME Q&A WITH MICHELE GUNN ‘I feel pretty comfortable taking the lead’ BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor LARGO VISTA, Texas – Starting in early August, Michele Gunn will step into a two-year term as president of NRRTS, but she’s not new to NRRTS’s leadership. She’s been on the board for a while and has been involved in several of NRRTS’ recent initiatives, including a sepa- rate benefit for complex rehab and collecting outcomes data. She took some time before assuming her duties to talk to HME News. HME News: What made you want to take this position? Michele Gunn: I’ve been on the board eight Michele Gunn or nine years and we look for some consistency in the executives. It made sense that I would take the reins, so to speak. I know a lot of the history and a lot of the things we’ve been working on and feel pretty comfortable with taking the lead. HME: What are you hoping to accomplish? Gunn: The project that is near and dear to my heart is the one we’re working on with the University of Pittsburgh (collecting patient outcomes data with a Functional Mobility Assessment tool). That’s kind of been my baby. We haven’t really done the best job we could proving our value. And now it’s really time to put up or shut up. HME: What could that outcomes data do for complex rehab? Gunn: There’s a lot of funding sources that won’t pay for things because they say, “That’s what you say it does, but where’s the proof?” And we’re going to go get it. HME Seminar offers complex APTA recognizes complex rehab BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – Industry stake- holders are hopeful that a separate benefit for complex rehab technol- ogy (CRT) might be a step closer. The American Physical Thera- py Association (APTA) passed a motion June 8 that recognizes the CRT field and the roles therapists play in the process of ful- filling a patient’s mobility needs. “That’s huge in that it will help define what the PT’s role is, which will be meaningful and influential APTA SEE PAGE 25 Laura Cohen mobility know-how Active American Mobility hosted its Complex Mobility and Advanced Electronics Seminar in Dallas, Texas, May 4. Attendees could attend an education course, check out an equipment expo and network with each other. Patrick Boardman, director of business development, said many who attended had no experience in seating and positioning and attended the event to learn more about it. In the above photo, Paul Dossey of Bill Holt & Associates talks power mobility with physical therapist Tamara Alexander.