Archive - April 2019

Are you having trouble looking for larger sizes for your clients? Aviana is expanding one of their most popular styles, the 2353 to a P cup this Spring. The size expansion will be for 2353 (candlelight only) in bands from 34-48 and new cups L, M, N, O, P for $26.50.  The Aviana brand has always been designed exclusively for full figured women.  We believe in comfort, support and fashion for all women from bands 32-56 and cups D-P.  Please join us in making sure that all women

In March, women and physicians concerned about breast implant surgery spoke before a panel of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about their concerns over the safety of breast implants. The risk of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) has been reported as high as 1 in 460 for breast cancer patients who receive a specific textured implant in some studies. Many countries have taken specific textured breast implants off the market. Currently, these breast

Assume that a physician does not directly or indirectly generate referrals of federal health care program (“FHCP”) patients to a DME supplier. If the supplier compensates the physician for services, then neither the federal anti-kickback statute (“AKS”) nor the federal Stark physician self-referral statute (“Stark Law”) will be violated. Now let’s change the facts and assume that the physician does directly or indirectly generate FHCP

Independence Blue Cross and Unite for HER, an organization based in the Philadelphia area, recently teamed up to package and provide self-care boxes for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. The self-care boxes contain products that are carefully selected to help enhance the health and comfort of the Medicare Advantage members while they undergo treatment. These boxes will automatically be sent to those members when they are diagnosed, beginning in January 2019.  The boxes

Genetic testing kits, like 23andMe and AncestryDNA give users background data of their ancestors. Kits are also available to help test food intolerances, all from the convenience of your home. 23andMe has the option to opt into the BRCA gene mutation test. People with this gene mutation have a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The New York Times interviewed a woman who opted into this specific test and came back negative. Years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. A

Some research indicates that 40% of breast cancer survivors will develop lymphedema. Once you develop lymphedema, you live with it for the rest of your life.  Recently, an Omaha breast cancer survivor showed how she has been managing her lymphedema for the past 23 years. Even though many people experience lymphedema, the majority of people do not understand the diagnosis, maintenance required, products available, and cost to the patient.  Read the full story from KMTV. The

One of the most important “profit centers” of a supplier is its compliance program. While a compliance program does not directly generate income for the supplier, a functioning compliance program will assist the supplier in (i) retaining the money it has previously been paid and (ii) not having to pay consultants and attorneys to assist in responding to a recoupment demand. Further, a functioning compliance program reduces the risk of (i) a whistleblower lawsuit being filed by

Updated 7/6/22 Grassroots advocacy is a term that is thrown around in politics, but what is it really? It is the process of communicating with the general public and asking them to contact their local, state or federal officials regarding a certain issue. Elected officials’ purpose should be to represent the views of their constituents. But how do they know what their constituents want unless their constituents speak out?  We know that every woman who experiences a

A new research study from Marshall University shows that eating walnuts can suppress growth and survival of breast cancers. Eating two ounces of walnuts a day was shown to significantly change the genes related to breast cancers. The randomized clinical trial recruited women with breast lumps large enough for research and pathology biopsies. After initial biopsies were collected, the women in the walnut group ate two ounces of walnuts a day for about two weeks. Changes in the gene expressions were

Breast cancer patients are more at risk of cardiovascular complications after they experience cancer treatment. The main cause of mortality in women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer is heart disease. Right now, exercise is not considered standard care with breast cancer patients. The research team conducted a randomized clinical trial that included sedentary, obese women who were breast cancer stage I-III survivors. They found that the participants who participated in a 16-week exercise