Archive - August 2019

Kim Neel of Alala When a woman hears she has beaten breast cancer, her life should improve. The fight is over, she’s in the clear, it’s time for things to go back to normal. But, as everyone in the industry knows, that is simply not the case. Side effects of the treatment that saved her life can lead to conditions like lymphedema – a condition that can cause fibrosis, infection, pain, and impaired functioning of the affected body part. Kim Neel, cofounder of Alala, has made it

Shopping for new software can be exciting, but choosing the right solution is only half of the equation. Making sure your organization is able to realize the full potential of the technology it has decided to implement is just as important is managing the change and transition. Jennifer Keiser outlined a step-by-step plan for home medical equipment (HME) providers, home infusion pharmacies and other homecare businesses looking to implement a technology change, including planning for the change

On January 23, 2019, the DMEPOS and Home Health Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Performant added Pneumatic Compression Devices to their CMS Approved Audit Issues log. The reviews are defined as complex reviews for claims with a paid date more than 3 years prior to the Additional Development Request (ADR) letter date. Performant indicates that pneumatic compression devices (HCPCS Codes E0651 and E0652) may have been provided to patients where all Medicare coverage criteria were not met. The review

The Let Her Decide team continues to push for additional cosponsors to the Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act every day. When we meet or talk with legislators, many of them ask about other organizations that support this legislation, which would show broad support among industry groups. Because of this ask, it is incredibly important that any size organizations, whether large or small, support the Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act. The more support and activity we can drive to this legislation,

Julia Louis-Dreyfus recently finished production on the final season of her show, Veep. Production was postponed when she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in September 2017. Louis-Dreyfus underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy with reconstruction. Just over a year later, she announced she was in remission.  The experience has opened her eyes to the importance of affordable health care. “I think it’s an important conversation to have

By: Krista Barnett, Marketing Manager, medi USA Compression is the cornerstone of therapy for patients with chronic venous diseases. Sufferers of venous diseases arise in those who have increased pressure strains on the veins in their legs, which can prompt valves within the veins to fail to work efficiently, resulting in blood flow to back up and eventually pool out into the legs. Venous disease is not curable, but veins do respond well to treatment. Compression therapy is a primary source of

Essentially Women member, Mary Walsh Aframe from Women's Image Center, was recently featured in a lifestyle publication based out of Boston. Women's Image Center is a post-mastectomy boutique that focuses on custom breast prosthesis, breast forms, post-mastectomy garments and wigs.  Aframe spent much of her early career working as a dental hygienist, while training to be a certified mastectomy fitter.  “Helping a woman look and feel her best while she’s

A new study suggests that red meat consumption may increase the risk of breast cancer, whereas poultry consumption may protect against breast cancer risk.  Researchers followed the meat and cooking practices of over 42,000 women for an average of 7.6 years. During follow-up, approximately 1,500 breast cancers were diagnosed. Women with the highest amount of red meat consumption had a 23% higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who consumed the lowest amount of red meat. Women who

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-FL and Rep. Susan Brooks, R-IN have teamed up to propose the reauthorization of the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, which was first passed in 2010. The EARLY Act focuses on education and outreach run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focusing on the risks young women and women of certain ethnic or racial backgrounds face from breast cancer.  “Reauthorizing the EARLY Act means that we will

A recent study commissioned by Byram Healthcare found that fewer than one in five working moms who breastfed know their rights in the workplace. The survey polled 1,000 working moms in the U.S. who have children ages two and under who are breastfeeding or who have recently breastfed. Fifty-two percent said they didn't know they are legally entitled to a room to pump a full year after giving birth and the room must have shades or no windows and a lock.  The survey also found that 95% of