Editor's Inbox

Salary Solidarity

Our company is currently looking into salaries to see if we are over, under or on average with the industry. I understand that you have salary comparisons for DME and rehab positions, etc. If you could direct me to that information, I would appreciate it.
— Mike Bales, CRTS, Med-Response Inc., Bluefield, W. Va.

Editor's Note: Each year, HomeCare magazine conducts a compensation survey of home medical equipment providers throughout the country. Regarding salaries, HomeCare's research looks at 15 positions ranging from billing clerk to company president to deliver an industry average for each title. Our annual survey also includes information on raises, benefits and bonuses. To view portions of the latest survey, visit www.homecaremag.com and select October 2004 from the list of archived issues. For a complete copy of the results, click the button titled “Purchase Exclusive HomeCare Research.”

Ode to Indifference

I am amazed at the general lack of knowledge and concern about competitive bidding — the impending redesign and realignment of our industry.

There really is no excuse for owners and executives not to know what is being considered by CMS … The general attitude is that whatever is going to happen [will happen, and] those who should know will somehow adjust and survive.

How many know, or have some idea, of the CMS time line for implementation? Where will it all begin? When could it affect your area? What product lines are being considered? What effect are “quality standards” going to have on your ability to “compete” to serve Medicare beneficiaries when competitive bidding arrives on your doorstep? How much preparation time and effort are you going to need to make your company minimally eligible to bid or even to bill Medicare for any item, whether it is selected for competitive bidding or not? What is your company's time line for survival? Can your business survive without having Medicare in your payer mix? Will you be able to survive to be around for the second round of competitive bidding? Should you seriously consider selling?

The information you need is available. Go find it.