Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/52926
HME NEWS / FEBRUARY 2012 / WWW.HMENEWS.COM MRS Homecare's mobility biz 'booming' 'We almost can't keep up with the demand' BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor TIFTON, Ga. – In an industry where small mobility providers are increasingly selling out to national chains, you might not expect a provider to branch out DEMO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CMS stated it would use the additional time to consider the comments and suggestions that Medicare received regarding both programs. Rehab stakeholders say they hope to use that time to refine the PMD demonstration project so that it works for providers, consumers and CMS. "We still have some work to do," said Seth Johnson, vice president of government affairs for Pride Mobility Products. "This delay provides the indus- try and other stakeholders the opportunity to work with Medi- care and make sure that when they do roll out a demonstra- tion, they do it in an appropri- ate manner." Among the industry's goals: bypass the prepay review phase, which would create serious cash flow issues for providers and access issues for patients; and work with CMS to alter the prior authorization process to allow providers to submit the required documentation and to allow physicians to use tem- plates, Johnson said. HME 2011 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 demonstration project in seven states that included a prepay review for power mobility devices. In response to industry, consumer and physician outcry, CMS in late December announced it would postpone the demo, originally slated to begin Jan. 1, 2012. The No. 8 and No. 9 stories ("New demo scru- tinizes PMD claims" and "Wheelchair providers react to new demo") examined the situation and clocked provid- er reaction. And finally, RESNA con- tinued to be an active force in the mobility industry. An article about RESNA's new wheelchair provision guide, "'It's astounding that this didn't exist'" took the No. 2 spot, and an update on RESNA's SMS credential, "One year later: Seating and mobility specialist creden- tial," came in at No. 10. HME EZ-ACCESS is a registered trademark of Homecare Products, Inc. Text & images © 2012. All rights reserved. 2011 The Right Ramp Makes a World of Difference and add complex rehab to its offerings. But that's just what MRS Homecare did, adding a com- plex rehab division to cover its 12 Georgia locations. And it's going like gang- busters. "The complex rehab business that we started just absolutely boomed," said Tyler Riddle, vice president of operations. "We almost can't keep up with the demand for complex rehab right now." In fact, the complex rehab division of MRS Homecare has grown to the point that it out- bills all other product categories. What's the secret of MRS Homecare's success? "We have one person that sees our patients through from start to finish," said Riddle. "They really feel like they are getting a level of personal attention that they're not getting elsewhere." That patient-provider rela- tionship has earned the compa- ny the loyalty and appreciation Mobility 23 of local referral sources, and the word of mouth associated with that has also helped expand the provider's reach, said Riddle. Riddle said patients in the provider's rural coverage area appreciate not having to go to a big clinic and sit in a waiting room. "We're taking that 'good ole boy' experience and trying to parlay that into rehab," said Riddle. HME