Connecting consumers with local medical equipment providers

HMEprovider.com has a network of over 3,000 community based providers nationwide. HMEprovider partners with this member network to connect consumers with a local medical equipment provider to assist with equipment and service needs. HMEprovider.com was contacted a few weeks ago by a first time mom. She and her co-worker were at their whitt's end. The ladies were trying desperately to find a medical equipment provider that carried electric breastpumps and would do insurance billing for the item. HMEprovider.com was able to access a member of our network in getting these ladies taken care of. One of these women took a few minutes to share her appreciation, "I can't thank you enough for your advice, support and assistance. You have been a godsend. If it wasn't for you I think we would have just given up a while ago. I want you to know how much we appreciate you! It's not just being able to get us the pumps but it has been such a positive/pleasurable experience dealing with you. We wish it was this easy any time we had/have to work with insurance companies." The HMEprovider.com network of independent, community based providers nationwide specialize in a variety of medical equipment, respiratory equipment, custom rehab equipment and home modification solutions. Most of our providers are Medicare licensed, have the ability to bill your private insurance and have obtained industry accreditation.

Traveling with a Parent

Posted by Angel Carl on January 25, 2011 on the Right at Home Blog.

If you plan to bring an elderly loved one with you when traveling, you will want to be prepared. The challenges of senior travel can complicate your trip and be a source of serious stress. What if your loved one has an emergency while traveling? Here are some things to consider while planning your trip from Right at Home:

• Talk to your loved one's doctor about your travel plans. A doctor familiar with your loved one's health and conditions can help you make arrangements for your loved one's special needs and ensure that your loved one's health will not be compromised by the trip.

• Familiarize yourself with your loved one's insurance policy, especially the emergency information and what the policy says constitutes an emergency. Bring a copy of these pages with you for reference on your trip, just in case.

• Carry a list of medicines your loved one is on and any other critical medical information.

• Always carry medications with you at all times — never pack them in a bag you are checking or in a carry-on bag that is being stored separately during a flight.

• Request a wheelchair from your airline or travel agent, and be sure this is noted on your ticket. This will make getting around airports quicker, safer and easier for everyone involved.

• If your loved one has a heart condition, confirm with your airline that there is a defibrillator on the plane.

• If traveling abroad, bring a copy of the Consular Information Sheet for the country you are visiting. This sheet has important country-specific travel information, such as location of the U.S. embassy, security information and health and medical information.

• If on a cruise, confirm with the cruise line that there will be an emergency doctor on board.

By planning ahead and being prepared for emergencies, you can ensure that everyone has an enjoyable time on your trip. If you're interested in connected with a medical equipment provider at your vacation destination, contact HMEprovider.com at 800-951-1213

Competitive bidding is a new Medicare program that will make it challenging for Medicare beneficiaries to obtain medically necessary equipment and service they need for daily living. Medicare traditionally has contracted with many home medical equipment providers throughout the country. However, the competitive bidding program will decrease the number of providers available to supply equipment and service. Medicare will accept new providers into the system based on a bidding process. Those providers who offer the lowest bid for their equipment and service will receive contracts from Medicare. Click here to view some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about this new program.

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: What you don't know WILL make you sick

The most serious issue facing the home medical equipment industry right now is competitive bidding. In its current form, it will have a devastating effect on both medical equipment providers and their patients -- our parents, grandparents and other loved ones.

A study commissioned by VGM concluded that CB will have a horrible effect on rural areas, which is the opposite of what CMS has been telling lawmakers and the medical equipment industry.
This study, as well as some interviews with individuals who use HME and related services, is the basis for VGM TV’s first show, “Medicare: What You Don’t Know WILL Make You Sick."


View Part 3 of this series to learn more about the serious service access issues that could result from competitive bidding.

Medicare: What you don't know WILL make you sick Part 3

The most serious issue facing the home medical equipment industry right now is competitive bidding. In its current form, it will have a devastating effect on both medical equipment providers and their patients -- our parents, grandparents and other loved ones. A study commissioned by VGM concluded that CB will have a horrible effect on rural areas, which is the opposite of what CMS has been telling lawmakers and the medical equipment industry. This study, as well as some interviews with individuals who use HME and related services, is the basis for VGM TV's first show, "Medicare: What You Don't Know WILL Make You Sick." View Part 3 of Medicare: What you don' t know WILL make you sick to learn more about service access issues that could arise as a result of competitive bidding.