Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/56191
■ Mark Schmeler has created a course that covers all the bases in rehab service delivery, from start to finish. See story page 23. CMS revamps PMD demo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The Scooter Store suffers setbacks ................. 21 ATG Rehab continues to grow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 How to get documentation from phyicians ........... 22 BRIEFS 2012 wheelchair revenue expected to grow 6.2% LOS ANGELES – From 2007 to 2012, wheel- chair revenue is expected to increase by an average of 5.5% to $2.8 billion, IBISWorld reported in January. In 2012, revenue is expected to grow by 6.2%, driven by a higher level of private healthcare spend- ing. Despite strong growth, the number of manufacturers is projected to decrease by an average of 1.8% per year to 375 firms in 2017, IBISWorld reported. The firm pegs Invacare as the largest player in the market, followed by Sunrise Medical. K0823 error rate: 88% WASHINGTON – The K0823 error rate from Oct. 8, 2011, to Jan. 7, 2012, in Jurisdic- tion D was 88%, CMS has reported. The rate is down slightly from a 90% error rate reported for the code from July 2011 to October 2011. Top reasons for denial in- cluded insufficient medical records sub- mitted to justify medical necessity; and re- quired documentation was not submitted in full or was not complete. NRRTS awards Sullivan honorary fellowship WALSENBURG, Colo. – NRRTS in January awarded Mark Sullivan an honorary fel- lowship. Sullivan is the recently retired vice president of global category for pow- er wheelchairs, seating and positioning at Invacare, and author of "Denied" and "Complex." "Mark has been a supporter of NRRTS and complex rehab for 20 years," said NRRTS Executive Director Simon Margolis. "(Being an honorary fellow) makes people aware that NRRTS feels that this is an extraordinary person." Mobility Plus opens new location in medical park CLAREMORE, Okla. – Mobility Plus an- nounced in January that it opened a new 3,500-square-foot location in the Claremore Medical Park. President Scott Knowles stated in a press release that the new space would allow the provider to expand storage and warehouse space and create a larger showroom and service area. "This space al- lows us to better serve our customers and keep growing to better meet the needs of the community," stated Knowles. Car show features mobility center DETROIT – The North American International Auto Show in January featured adaptive ve- hicles and accessories for people with dis- abilities. Among the exhibitors were Vehicle Production Group, maker of the MV-1, a fac- tory-built vehicle for wheelchair passengers; Creative Mobility Group, which installs adap- tive products like driving controls and grab handles; GoShichi, which does 4x4 truck conversions for wheelchair-using drivers; AutoAbility, which makes wheelchair conver- sion vans; and Toyota and Chrysler's mobil- ity programs. Also included at the show: a mobility scooter showcase. ATG Rehab makes third rehab-only buy Rocky Mountain to shift focus to O&P BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor ROCKY HILL, Conn. – It appears ATG Rehab has found its groove, acquiring the complex rehab seg- ment of Rocky Mountain Medical Equipment, but leaving the rest of the company behind. It's the third time in the past year that ATG has made such a buy. "It's a strategy that, when it applies, makes sense," said Cody Verrett, vice president of sales and marketing for ATG Rehab. The deal, announced in Janu- ary, caps a year of growth for ATG Rehab that began in Janu- ary 2011, when Audax Private Equity became a majority inves- tor. The other two rehab division- only deals: Vanguard in March 2011; and Westmed Rehab in June 2011. With its most recent acquisi- tion, ATG Rehab adds 3,100 cus- tomers and five ATPs. As for Rocky Mountain Medi- cal Equipment, President Jody Wright said his company would shift its focus to its orthotics and prosthetics lines and to electro- therapy. Wright decided to get out of complex rehab because of declin- ing reimbursements and fear of worse to come, he said. "There's a reason why our industry has consolidated," Wright said. "You need a large enough chunk of business for economies of scale." HME Hudson adds square BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor WASHINGTON – Stakeholders planning to attend CELA may have a big boost when they hit the Hill as part of the April event: a bill to create a separate benefit for complex rehab. Stakeholders scored a vic- tory in October, when Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., agreed to sponsor a separate bene- fit bill. Since then, they have worked to find a Republican co-sponsor. "There is every indication that we'll have a bill introduced in Congress before (CELA)," said NRRTS Executive Director Simon Margolis. S. Margolis COMPLEX REHAB Bill could give CELA attendees an advantage "We're hopeful it will be introduced by the end of February." Margolis said lobbying for the expected bill will be the main focus of CELA, which will take place April 18-19 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel-Crystal City. The event will also include a keynote from United Spinal Association President Paul Tobin, and strategy and information sessions to prepare attendees for a busy day of meetings on the Hill. Additionally, prior to CELA, on April 16, there will be a national call-in day for stakeholders and consumers to lobby lawmakers to support a sepa- rate benefit for complex rehab. Making lawmakers aware that their constitu- ents care about a separate benefit before CELA is key to holding successful meetings during the event, Margolis said. HME Study calls for more research BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor MINNEAPOLIS – A lack of research relating to com- plex rehab could put funding in danger, accord- ing to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). That's no surprise to Mark Schmeler, a Univer- sity of Pittsburgh assistant professor who has been working to improve research efforts for years. "We're trying to find better ways to provide wheelchairs and prove (our efficacy) to the gov- ernment, so they don't keep cutting us," he said. Minnesota Evidence-based Practice Center cre- ated the Wheeled Mobility (Wheelchair) Service Delivery technical report for the AHRQ at the suggestion of the Medicaid Medical Directors Learning Network. The report found that, while there is a gener- ally recommended service delivery process for complex rehab, there is a lack of research into its efficacy, which potentially puts funding in danger. "Without evidence of effectiveness, healthcare Without evidence, payers have no rationale for funding the recommended steps, study says. systems may not feel obligated to offer specialty clinics and ongoing services, and third- party payers have no rationale for funding the recommended steps," the report states. HME Mobility WWW.HMENEWS.COM / MARCH 2012 / HME NEWS 21 Scooter Store suffers setbacks BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – Between changing up his management team and taking legal action against some of his former employees , The Scooter Store Presi- dent Doug Harrison had his hands full in early 2012. The Scooter Store lost two executives in January: chief financial officer (CFO) Tom Shaw and chief sales officer (CSO) Mike Pfister. But the vacancies shouldn't result in structural or strategic changes within the company, Harrison said. Doug Harrison "Those are both positions that we will keep on my staff," he said. "One has been filled and one's about to be filled." The Scooter Store hired Shaw as an interim CFO in mid-2011. But his family remained in California, meaning he had to SCOOTER SEE PAGE 22 footage for home access Hudson Seating & Mobility announced in January that a soon-to-be completed addition to its headquarters will increase the company's footprint from 25,000 to 33,500 square feet. Some of the additional space will be used to expand satellite operations for Hudson Accessibility Solutions, Hudson's home access division. Hudson operates eight locations in the Northeast.