What HMEprovider is all about...

A call was received at HMEprovider.com earlier this week. I spoke to the caller who indicated her father was going to be transitioning back home from the hospital and would be in need of some medical equipment. She had a bit of a frantic tone in her voice as she said "I live in a different town and I'm trying to coordinate this for him. I didn't know who to call until I found your company online this morning." The caller went on to say that her father was returning home with a terminal diagnosis and she was working to get all services and equipment coordinated for a smooth return home. I was able to assure her that HMEprovider.com has a network of community based medical equipment experts. Based on her area I knew immediately that we had a partner in the area that would not only be able to provide any equipment needed, but they'd also provide the high level of care and service that was needed in such a delicate situation. This call was so similar to the other calls and online connections we make countless times through out the week. As we were able to assist in connecting this consumer to an expert that could really CARE for her and her father I smiled this is exactly what we're all about.... If you or a loved one has medical equipment or home modification needs and you don't know where to turn, let HMEprovider.com be your first step. Let us work with our network of experienced professionals to provide you with anything needed to meet your needs. Contact us at 800-951-1213.

Peace of Mind with a Medical Alert Device

A Medical Alert Device helps seniors when they can't reach the phone for help. These types of devices offer peace of mind for both seniors as well as their loved ones. There are several different types of devices with both neck and wrist pendants available. A local medical equipment provider specializing in medical alert devices can work with you to provide you with product that best fit your needs.

Watch this short video to see how the Guardian Alert 911, one of the most popular alert systems on the market, can help you or your loved one stay safe.

Meet the most important room - The Bathroom

When designing for accessibility, in accordance with individual functional capabilities, no location in the home is more important than the bathroom. It is often the first or the only room to need modification. The bathroom is the common denominator for all of the members of the family since independent maintenance of personal hygiene is important to every member's sense of privacy, self- esteem and personal hygiene. Family members and guests do not need constant reminders of the client's disability. A person with a disability is not a patient, and therefore, institutional precedents are not appropriate. The appropriate goal is to provide, as unobtrusively as possible, precisely what is needed in order to function by including design considerations that provide adaptability to future circumstances.

"If we are to truly pursue the principles of Universal Design for our built environment, then we should be forward thinking in terms of how we design new homes or modifications of existing ones". Wally Dutcher, Universal Design Consultant and specialist.

Layout Considerations The choice of fixtures, locations, and architectural solutions will be influenced by such non-physical factors as family constraints, what changes landlords will allow, and the client's personal habits or preferences. Physical factors include the type of disability the client's range of motion, and the physical context of the building. The bathroom is a prime location for household accidents. The combination of water and soap can easily create conditions that are hazardous to the frail, the elderly or the wheelchair user in the midst of a transfer. All surfaces and handholds should be non-slip. Water temperature should be regulated by thermostatic controls or pressure compensation devices, and the water heater should be preset at a limit of 109°F (43°C). Provide an emergency call system and emergency hardware for the door so that if an accident does occur the occupant can summon help and the helpers can get into the room. Safety must be kept firmly in mind at all stages of the design process. Accessibility is for all, so your design should suit the needs of everyone!

Posted by Ronnie Wiskin of Barrier Free Living

Medicare Patient Responds to Orlando Sentinal

Medicare Patient Responds to Orlando Sentinel
By Aaron Thomas

Mike Thomas' recent column on Medicare's competitive bidding program for home equipment and services was biased and laden with problems.



It is based upon the flawed premise that medical equipment and related services (oxygen therapy , wheelchairs, etc.) delivered to Medicare beneficiaries in their homes should be reimbursed based on what one would pay on the Internet or at a retailer for the equipment alone.

As someone who has used a wheelchair since the age of 4 due to a form of muscular dystrophy , I can tell you that a power wheelchair, specifically fitted for my disability, cannot be acquired over the Internet.

Even oxygen, as a regulated prescription drug, can't just be picked up at a local Walmart. Should a user who depends on supplemental oxygen to stay alive pick it up at Walmart, adjust the flow rate, and maintain this system, plus a back-up, on their own? Will Walmart provide emergency supplies of oxygen after a hurricane when the power's out?

What some don't understand is that getting the cheapest reimbursement for a medically required device for home use is not in the patient's or taxpayer's best interest. Quality home medical equipment and services help keep seniors and people with disabilities safe and independent in the most cost-effective setting for care -their own homes.

Medicare currently pays under $7 per day to provide oxygen therapy in the homes of people with lung disease or heart failure. Compare that to more than $7,000 on average that Medicare pays for a short hospital stay.

Bottom line: quality equipment and services provided to Medicare beneficiaries in their homes is part of the answer -not the problem -to Medicare's financial crisis.

This poorly designed Medicare bidding was implemented for two weeks in 2008. The program excluded 90 percent of local area providers, excluded qualified applications, and awarded contracts to unqualified providers with no experience in this area. Had the program continued, patient choice, access to care, and quality competition would have suffered.

Unfortunately , the flaws in this program remain. It's due to resume in Orlando and Miami in 2011. There is no way to predict the detrimental impact on Florida beneficiaries. A bipartisan bill to repeal Medicare bidding is supported by 255 members of Congress and designed to be budget neutral.

The bill would cut payments to home medical equipment to make up for the savings the bid program would have reaped -without dismantling the existing network of home medical providers.

Aaron C. Bates lives in Orlando.

Caregivers: Making the transition from hospital to home easier

(ARA) - Coming home from the hospital or other care setting after an illness or surgery can be worrisome for both patients and the friends and family members who care for them. Planning ahead can make the process much easier. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has advice that is useful to the millions of Americans who are actively involved in caregiving. Through its caregiver initiative, Ask Medicare, CMS recommends the following steps to prepare for a transition: * Plan ahead: You can - and should - start thinking about the discharge process well in advance, even as early as at the time of admission. CMS has a helpful checklist of key points in its "Planning for Your Discharge" guide, available at the "Medicare Basics" link on the home page of the Ask Medicare website at http://www.medicare.gov/caregivers/. This checklist will help you prepare for the next steps in care.
* Get ready for new responsibilities: Talk to hospital staff about what you will need to do at home, who will show you how to properly carry out any new tasks you will be taking on, such as administering medication, using medical equipment, changing bandages or giving shots. * Make needed changes to your home: You might need to rearrange your home to have room for items such as a hospital bed, walker or a wheelchair. You might need to consider installing a ramp in place of stairs - be sure to ask the hospital staff what will be needed. You should also remove area rugs and other items that may cause falls and group electrical cords together with ties or clips to keep them clear of high-traffic areas.
* Prepare for extra costs: The person you are caring for may need new medical services or medicines after coming home. Medicare may cover some of these costs, but not all. You can learn about services and care that are covered by Medicare at the "Help With Billing" and "Is It Covered?" links at the Ask Medicare home page.
* Keep a list of key contacts: Put contact information for doctors, pharmacists, home care agency staff and others involved in the care process where you can easily find them. * Don't be afraid to ask for help: If you're overwhelmed, don't hesitate to ask a friend or family member to lend a hand. If paid home health services are needed, you can learn more about home health services in the "Medicare and Home Health Care" booklet, which is also accessible at the Ask Medicare home page. It's also important to keep a file of resources on hand and to bookmark useful web sites, including Ask Medicare, the United Hospital Fund's "Next Step in Care" initiative at http://www.nextstepincare.org/ and AARP's caregiving site at www.aarp.org/caregivers. More information can be accessed through http://www.healthcare.gov/, a new web portal offered by the Department of Health and Human Services. Courtesy of ARAcontent Unsure who in your area to contact with for your home medical and home modification needs? Contact HMEprovider.com 800-951-1213 We will connect you to an expert in your area that can help with your home medical equipment, oxygen therapy, wheelchair, ramp or safety equipment needs.

Multigeneration Households Are Growing

Before there was Social Security, welfare or other social safety nets, there was family. When times got hard or life went off the rails, people went home. Multigeneration Households Increased During the Recession Since the start of the recession in 2007, people have been turning to their families again, and in record numbers, according to a Pew Research Center study. In 2008, 49 million Americans (just over 16 percent of the population, including a rising number of seniors) lived in multi-generation households-2.6 million more than in 2007. But the recession didn't start the increase in multigeneration households, it only accelerated a trend that has been building steadily since 1980, when the number of Americans living in such family units hit an all-time low of about 12 percent. In 2008, about 20 percent of adults 65 and older were living in households with at least two generations under one roof. Some had moved in with children or other relatives to make a fixed income go farther or to have a family caretaker nearby, while others were raising their grandchildren. Yet the biggest factor in creating new multigeneration households was the number of young adults in the 25 to 34 age group that moved in with their parents or older relatives. The percentage of young adults ages 25 to 34 who were living in multigeneration households in 2008 was about the same as the percentage of people who were 65 and older. But the increase in young adults living in multigeneration households was dramatic (from 11 percent in 1980 to 20 percent in 2008) while the increase among older people was more gradual (from 17 percent in 1980 to 20 percent in 2008). The Sandwich Generation is Born Many baby boomers-the so-called sandwich generation -are caught in the middle as they struggle to provide shelter and support for aging parents and adult children who are not yet able to live on their own. And the economy is making it harder for many people, young and old, to remain independent-which drives the increase in multigeneration households. The Pew Research Center reports that roughly 37 percent of younger Americans (aged 18 to 29) were either unemployed or out of the work force in 2008, the highest percentage in 40 years. And a more recent Pew Research survey found that among 22- to 29-year-olds, one in eight say that the recession caused them to boomerang back to live with their parents after being on their own for awhile. Creating a Successful Multigeneration Household For even the most loving families, a multigeneration household can put a strain on communication, lifestyles, privacy and peace of mind. It's important to keep communication open and avoid misunderstandings. Take a tip from well-run businesses and schedule a family meeting once a week-or at least once a month. Decide how household tasks will be shared, look for ways to streamline meal planning and preparation, and household chores. And don't forget to have fun together. The poet Robert Frost said: "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." In today's economically troubled times, it appears that more and more people are being forced to test that theory. Artcile by Sharon O'Brien About.com Guide

Elegant Grab Bars?

As more and more people make the choice to age at home or recover at home after an accident or illness the medical industry responds. Did you know that you can install grab bars in your home to give you the safety and support you or a loved one needs yes still maintain the décor? There is a vast selection of grab bars in various sizes and finishes that are actually pretty elegant looking. Let us connect you with a certified provider to review the selection and make arrangements to install your new grab bars today. Call HMEprovider.com 800-951-1213

Safety with NO installation!

Did you know there are products available to you today, at minimal charge, requiring virtually NO installation, that can make a world of difference to your safety and your independence at home?

Many people probably don’t have the first clue about where to find simple products that can make it easier for them to get out of bed in the morning or take a bath at night. Many may think of the standard medical equipment like walkers and canes, but there is so much more out there for you!!

Have you ever considered a suction cup grab bar or a tub clamp? These products require no “installation” and therefore no change to the structure of your home, yet they may very well be a way for you to find added comfort and safety.


If getting in and out of bed is becoming a challenge, don’t assume you need to give up the bed that offers you a great night’s sleep, consider a bed assist. This item secures under your mattress and will provide the extra support you need in getting into bed or repositioning yourself.

To view additional products to help you stay comfortable and independent at home visit http://www.hmeprovider.com/

If you don’t see what you’re looking for, give us a call. Our network contains over 3,000 providers nationwide that specialize in meeting your medical equipment needs. 800-951-1213