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s Douglas Towne says mobility providers play a big role in an attitudes shift on disability—and they could do more. See story page 30. Providers leery of prepay reviews ................... 29 Medicaid Summit dates set ........................ 29 Stakeholders seek recognition for standers. . . . . . . . . . . 32 Schools offer potential customer pool ............... 33 Mobility WWW.HMENEWS.COM / SEPTEMBER 2011 / HME NEWS 29 BRIEFS USM cracks Texas market in June, acquires Central Kentucky Mobility in July ST. LOUIS – United Seating and Mobility (USM) announced June 30 that it finalized a deal with Rehab Specialties to acquire its complex mobility business. The addition of Rehab Specialties brings USM into Texas for the first time. USM President and CEO Bob Gouy stated in a release that opera- tions would continue with the same team and leadership. USM announced July 22 that it acquired Central Kentucky Mobility's (CKM) complex mobility business. Gouy called CKM's service areas in Lexington and Louisville, Ky., as well as central, east- ern and southern Kentucky, "a core market for us." The merged USM/CKM will con- tinue to provide services in that area. Vantage Mobility International launches redesigned website PHOENIX – Vantage Mobility International debuted a new website July 21. A section for first-time buyers allows customers to see different the wheelchair conversions available and includes a "Build-A-Van" feature. The site also offers a community section with blogs and news, and a clean, fresh look. VMI President Doug Eaton stat- ed in a release that the new website would allow the company to better communicate with dealers and customers. Braun releases new conversion vans WINIMAC, Ind. – The Braun Corp. introduced two new "Braunability" wheelchair conver- sion vans, the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan and the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country. The van conversions offer side-entry or rear-entry access, a wheelchair ramp, a sliding side door, and a kneeling feature that reduces the ramp angle. Also, the step-and-roll front seats are removable to allow the wheelchair user to drive. Mobility employee named volunteer of the year SAN DIEGO – Keith Miller, a mobility sales specialist at the San Diego-based Ability Center, was named 2011 volunteer of the year by the Muscular Dystrophy Associa- tion. The annual award honors people for the "contribution, dedication and commit- ment to better health for all San Diegans," stated a July 26 press release issued by the Ability Center. The 17-year-old com- pany provides mobility equipment and ser- vices through six locations in three states: California, Arizona and Nevada. Short takes NRRTS in August relocated its offices. Its new address is 112 E. 6th Street, WalsenBurg, Colo, 81089…The Assistive Technology Industry Association in June announced its annual conference will take place Nov. 3-5, 2011, in Chicago. FMI: www.atia.org. NCART, rehab providers keep an eye on Medicaid Summit examines state policies, offers strategies BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor ST. LOUIS – The second NCART National Medicaid Summit is set for Nov. 30-Dec. 1, and Executive Director Don Clay- back can't wait to show attend- ees what he's been up to since last year. The first summit offered a basic overview of federal pol- icies for Medicaid, Clayback said. The second one will offer more real-life examples of Medicaid policy changes and payment reductions and strategies for how to deal with them. Clayback will also update attendees on the states that NCART identified as not com- plying with federal regulations during last year's summit. "Sometimes states might deviate from the federal poli- cies because no one is holding them accountable," said Clay- back. "They kind of stray from what they should be doing." One exam- ple is Missis- sippi, where Medicaid Don Clayback restricts coverage for power wheelchairs to only people under the age of 21. That's not allowed, Clayback said. NCART has hired attorneys to work with the state to get its policies back in line. The summit will also provide opportunities for SUMMIT SEE PAGE 30 Providers donate van to Cincinnati family Vantage Mobility International teamed up with MobilityWorks and Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory to donate a wheelchair accessible van to a family in need. Arnneater Crawford, a city of Cincinnati employee, needed the van for her son, Donté, who has cerebral palsy. The family now owns the 2010 Town & Country with VMI's Northstar side-entry, lowered floor. From left are Arnneater Crawford, Mayor Mark Mallory, Monique McGivney (VMI), Jeff Witt (MobilityWorks) and Crawford's other son, Steven. AbleNet offers mobility providers new opportunity Communication devices follow similar prescription process to wheelchairs BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor ST. PAUL, Minn. – AbleNet wants mobility provid- ers to think about communication in a new way. Communication devices, that is. AbleNet offers communication devices with Medicare/Medicaid codes that providers can sup- ply to existing patients, especially complex rehab patients. "For the DME providers, this is a world they have been living in for a very long time," said Adam Wing, vice president of global business for AbleNet. AbleNet offers 10 communication devices ranging from one-button devices that play one message, to the Jive, a device with unlimited options and 14 hours of recording time. The prescription process for a communication device is similar to that for wheelchairs: Patients are prescribed communication devices by doc- tors and referred to a speech pathologist. Wing sees this market as an opportunity for reimbursement-strapped providers, especially those in competitive bidding areas. Communi- cation devices aren't part of the program. AbleNet has hired speech pathologist Diane AbleNet wants mobility providers to offer com- munication devices, such as the BIGmack, above. Russell to reach out to providers through webi- nars, industry shows and in-person consultation. Currently, most AbleNet devices sold in the United States are sold to school districts. But since education budgets are shrinking, AbleNet believes providers are a good resource because they can bill Medicare and Medicaid. "Rather than family members throwing up their arms and saying they're left (paying out of pocket), this is another solution," said Russell. Provider response has been positive so far, Wing said. "The feedback that we received is exactly what we had hoped for," Wing said, "Which is, 'This is what we're looking for.'" HME Prepay reviews gain traction BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor WASHINGTON – If power wheelchairs get put on prepay review, an over- whelming majority of mobility providers would stop providing the equip- ment, according to a new survey by The VGM Group's U.S. Rehab. Why? Such reviews could leave providers hold- ing the bag. They'd provide a wheelchair to a beneficia- ry and submit a claim to CMS; CMS would receive the claim, request docu- mentation, and then decide whether or not to pay. "99.5% would not con- tinue to provide the equip- ment if it was all on prepay review," said Peggy Walker, PREPAY SEE PAGE 32