HME News in 10

Ronda Buhrmester on the bottleneck that’s costing you

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10, sponsored by Prochant.    https://www.prochant.com/ourguarantee?utm_source=hmenews&utm_medium=ad-podcast&utm_campaign=bp%20; Today’s guest is Ronda Buhrmester, vice president of client experience, for Prochant.  As a 30-year veteran of the HME industry, she knows intake has always been a headache, but today it’s a full-blown pressure point that’s on a collision course with surging referrals, increasingly complex payer rules and ongoing staffing shortages.   In this episode, Buhrmester breaks down what’s really driving denials and delays, and more importantly, what providers can do about it.   Her top takeaway? The providers who win are the ones who get proactive, dig deep and fix intake at the root.  Hosts:   Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty   Guest:  Ronda Buhrmester  https://www.prochant.com/ourguarantee?utm_source=hmenews&utm_medium=ad-podcast&utm_campaign=bp%20;

Justin Lewis provides an AI reality check

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10, sponsored by Brightree.  https://www.brightree.com/ Today’s guest is Justin Lewis, senior director of Brightree’s ReSupply LiveCall Service. He offers a reality check on AI and how to use it in a way that actually improves patient experience.  “We put a lot of thought into how a call should actually feel from the patient’s perspective – where it should start, how we should ask questions, what decisions need to happen in the background, and what a smooth handoff looks like when a human is needed,” he said.  When providers move past common misconceptions about AI, Lewis says they can use it to:  • Handle routine requests, like order status, more efficiently  • Free up agents to focus on complex conversations  • Better manage call volume spikes  • Extend service capabilities  Ultimately, Lewis says AI is at its best when it delivers real, measurable value – not hype. Hosts:  Liz Beaulieu  Theresa Flaherty  Guest:  Justin Lewis

CGM Competitive Bidding

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10, sponsored by DDP Medical Supply.  https://www.ddpmedical.com Today’s guest, Brian O’Neill, president of DDP Medical Supply, says providers of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are at a fork in the road.  With the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adding CGMs to the next round of the Medicare competitive bidding program, providers must choose:  • Step away before bidding begins; or  • Scale up to compete for one of the limited contracts  O’Neill shares why DDP is focused on partnering with those aiming to win – and how its expanded distribution network and other upcoming initiatives are designed to help providers deliver nationwide efficiently and economically.  Hosts:  Liz Beaulieu  Theresa Flaherty  Guest:  Brian O’Neill  https://www.ddpmedical.com

Mitch Yoel on the hidden economy of POCs

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10, sponsored by Rhythm Healthcare. https://www.rhythmhc.com/ Today’s guest, Mitch Yoel, COO of Rhythm Healthcare, pulls back the curtain on what he calls the “hidden economy” of portable oxygen concentrators (POCs). Beyond the purchase price, providers often absorb the cost-of-service calls, tech labor, RMAs, loaners and downtime – expenses that can crush margins. Yoel’s advice: 1. Measure service costs like you measure reimbursement 2. Partner with manufacturers who share downstream risk 3. Implement SLAs with exchange-for-new warranty programs “I think providers who reframe oxygen as an uptime program – not just a product purchase – are going to own disproportionate referral share,” Yoel says. “They’ll enjoy better financials and deliver better outcomes for patients.” Hosts:  Liz Beaulieu  Theresa Flaherty    Guest: Mitch Yoel https://www.rhythmhc.com/

Steve Cela on why you can't fix what you can't see

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10 sponsored and developed by Strategic Office Support (SOS).  https://hubs.ly/Q03T54T90%20; Today’s guest is Steve Cela, CEO of SOS. He joins HME News in 10 to expose the invisible workflow leaks quietly draining revenue from even the best HME providers. His message is clear: It’s not staffing or reimbursement holding you back - it’s the leaks you can’t see. In this episode, Cela encourages providers to embrace: *  Visibility; *  Automation; and * Operational discipline. As Cela puts it, “Change is a heavy lift, but the market is moving fast. The next five years will separate the winners from the watchers.” Hosts:  Liz Beaulieu  Theresa Flaherty    Guest: Steve Cela https://hubs.ly/Q03T54T90%20;