HME News in 10

Josh Marx on evolution

When he was assembling commodes and shipping adult diapers in the Medical Service Company warehouse as a kid, Josh Marx didn’t think HME would be his profession or his passion. But like MSC’s business, Marx’s views of the industry have evolved and now he finds himself in a leadership position not only at the company but also at AAHomecare. Hear why Marx wants to “pack the field” with HME advocates and why he wants to push for alternate payment models that recognize the industry’s “global care management” capabilities. “There’s a lot of evolution we’ve seen and there’s a lot more that’s required,” he says.

Hosts:
Liz Beaulieu
Theresa Flaherty

Guest:
Josh Marx

Miriam Lieber on how HME providers are excellent

Miriam Lieber, one of three judges for this year’s HME Excellence Awards, talks about her process for helping to select the HME Provider of the Year. Hear how Lieber, president of Lieber Consulting LLC, looks for a “distinguishing trait” in every application she reviews – whether it’s committed community involvement, dramatic financial improvement or a dynamic website – and why she thinks providers need to celebrate and maximize their excellence.

HME providers can apply to be the HME Provider of the Year at http://www.hmeexcellenceawards.com/apply.php. The deadline is June 30.

Hosts:
Liz Beaulieu
Theresa Flaherty

Guest:
Miriam Lieber

Russ Johannesson on setting the pace in digital health

Russ Johannesson, CEO of Glooko, says innovation is in the company’s DNA. “Our innovation mandate comes from a desire to truly understand our users’ needs,” he said. “We think it’s our responsibility to continue to innovate.” Hear how that commitment to innovation helped Glooko raise $30 million in funding and allows the company to stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-moving digital health marketplace.

Hosts:
Liz Beaulieu
Theresa Flaherty

Guest:
Russ Johannesson

Regina Gillispie on being best friends with health LAs

Regina Gillispie, the president and owner of Best Home Medical in Barboursville, W.Va., talks about why she prioritizes making her voice heard in Washington, D.C., whether it’s by visiting Capitol Hill every year or tweeting about the reimbursement pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. “I try to be respectful,” she says, “but you need to stay in front of them.” Hear how, by developing close relationships with the health legislative aides of her senators and representatives – she even emailed them during the Capitol Hill riots to make sure they were safe – “They know who I am,” she says. 

Hosts:
Liz Beaulieu
Theresa Flaherty

Guest:
Regina Gillispie

Dylan Ross on managing your equipment needs

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10 sponsored and developed by McKesson. 

Our guest is Dylan Ross, vice president and general manager of Biomedical Solutions for McKesson. Hear how finding the right partner for stocking, servicing and tracking equipment can, among other things, help an HME provider maximize device utilization – a must-have capability brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on Biomedical Solutions, go to: https://mms.mckesson.com/content/services-tools/biomedical-solutions/.

Host:
Liz Beaulieu

Guest:
Dylan Ross

John Quinlan on being the ‘squeaky wheel’

John Quinlan, the owner of Quinlan’s Pharmacy & Medical Equipment, says being the “squeaky wheel” helped him get his staff in line for the COVID-19 vaccine, soon after it became available in late December. Quinlan says providers and industry stakeholders have done a great job vocalizing their needs during the pandemic – for the vaccine, for PPE, for oxygen concentrators. Hear how this has been a chaotic time for providers like Quinlan but how they’re doing their part – and then some.

Hosts:
Liz Beaulieu
Theresa Flaherty

Guest:
John Quinlan

Bill Mixon on smarter and better care

This episode is sponsored by:

 

Bill Mixon, the CEO of National Seating & Mobility, talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the company to review every element of how it operates, including how it services patients amid closures and limitations on face-to-face interactions. Hear how NSM has used “smart alternate solutions” for 25% of new clients during the pandemic and why Mixon believes remote services and telehealth should be part of the new gold standard for health care beyond the pandemic. “We think it can actually create a better level of services, if properly deployed,” he said.

Hosts:
Liz Beaulieu
Theresa Flaherty

Guest:
Bill Mixon, CEO, National Seating & Mobility

Sarah Hanna on superheroes and their sidekicks

This episode is sponsored by:

Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Sarah Hanna, CEO of ECS North, gave her staff a pep talk about the important role they play in supporting front-line health care workers in caring for those affected by the virus. “We are the motor that keeps this thing going,” she told them. Hear Hanna on how the pandemic has challenged, yet advanced, revenue cycle and payment processes; and how it has taught her, as a leader, that you’re never too experienced to “get back into” the day to day. “You’re never too old to do the processes that you did 30 years ago,” she says. “Just because you have the title of CEO – that means nothing when it’s all hands on deck.”

Hosts:
Liz Beaulieu
Theresa Flaherty

Guest:
Sarah Hanna, CEO, ECS North

Unlocking the value of the HME industry

Vijay Kedar of Tomorrow Health talks about how the HME industry has more potential than ever, despite increasing complexity and cost pressures. Everything from an aging population to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the home care industry, including HME and supplies, “within focus” for so many stakeholders, he says. “We think this is going to be a power period for this industry to grow and expand and deliver.”

Hosts:
Liz Beaulieu
Theresa Flaherty

Guest:
Vijay Kedar, c o-founder and CEO, Tomorrow Health

Bill Guidetti’s ‘holistic’ view of the HME industry

This episode is sponsored by:

Bill Guidetti, the new chairman of the board of directors at AAHomecare, rallies HME providers behind the association and its efforts to right industry challenges like Medicare’s competitive bidding program. Hear why lack of “time and treasure” is no excuse not to be involved in the industry’s advocacy efforts, and how the association balances addressing the needs of providers of all sizes. “We look (at the industry) holistically as a sector of health care,” Guidetti says. “The way we advocate, we make sure every provider is taken care of.”

Hosts:
Liz Beaulieu
Theresa Flaherty

Guest:
Bill Guidetti, executive vice president, East Division, Apria Healthcare