It's the classic good news-bad news situation for home medical equipment providers: Salaries seem to be holding steady — but that's for employees who have kept their jobs.
Over the past 12 months, nearly one in three HME providers (31 percent) participating in HomeCare's Salary & Benefits Survey have had layoffs.
That stat and others across the survey show without a doubt that the industry's tumultuous conditions, worsened by the nation's sputtering economy, have extracted a heavy toll.
Take employee benefits, for example. Fifty-seven percent of providers reported they had made changes to their company's health care plans in the past year: 35 percent changed/modified plans to save the company costs, 16 percent have done so to save employees costs and 27 percent have increased employee premiums.
In a second telling example, 84 percent of providers in the magazine's 2008 survey gave employees raises averaging 5 percent. This year, the average raise was also 5 percent, but only 53 percent of providers handed them out.
| Over the past 12 months for providers in HomeCare's survey group |
|
|---|---|
| 31% | have laid off employees |
| 38% | have frozen salaries |
| 33% | have left positions vacant |
| 57% | have made changes to health benefits |
| 14% | have reduced employees' work hours |
| 53% | gave raises vs. 84% in 2008 |
| 29% | have dropped bonuses |
| 26% | have reduced commissions |
Thirty-eight percent of providers in the 2009 survey group have frozen salaries, another 13 percent have reduced them and 14 percent have reduced the hours of some employees. Thirty-three percent have left an open position vacant. Twenty-nine percent have dropped bonuses for some (16 percent) or all (13 per-cent) employees. Twenty-six percent have reduced commissions.
The reasons for all this are exactly what you might expect. Here's a representative sample of answers providers gave when we asked why they had laid off staff, cut back hours and/or reduced salaries or commissions:
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"Because Medicare allowables have been so cut and coverage items have been deleted. Also, the new regulations for oxygen are killing us."
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"Because we are down 20 percent-plus on the year. The money has to come from somewhere."
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"Faced with the competitive bid, we closed two branches and reduced staff. We also cut back hours in the warehouse and delivery."
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"Shrinking profit margin and increased expenses, which include accreditation and increased length of time of collectibles."
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"Due to the oxygen cut in January, we are unable to increase sales as fast as we are losing O2 revenue."
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"The volume of work has remained the same although reimbursement has been reduced significantly. There is no money to pay these people."
On the flip side of the survey, however, the news isn't all bad. Forty-eight percent of participating companies added staff in the past year, with most of those positions (46 percent) in sales. Almost a third (37 percent) created new job functions, and 46 percent have hired to fill open positions. A smaller percentage has added benefits (11 percent) and bonuses for some (5 percent) or all (3 percent) employees.
Moving to 2010, providers also remain somewhat optimistic. Only 15 percent said they anticipate layoffs next year. If conditions don't improve, however, half (49 percent) said they are prepared to take further action concerning staffing or salaries. With any more cuts to oxygen or power wheelchairs, 44 percent said they would reduce or freeze salaries, 40 percent will lay off staff and 37 percent will reduce benefits.
For many, a lot hinges on the outcome of competitive bidding, they said.
"We can't plan ahead," wrote one frustrated provider. "It's a problem … Health care reform can increase business, but competitive bidding can put me out of business."
Another summed it up this way: "The question is not 'will we hire' in 2010. The question is 'will we remain in business.'"
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Survey Fast Stats
About Salaries & Bonuses
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The average salary increase given by responding companies was 5 percent.
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Of surveyed companies, 53 percent said at least some employees received a raise in the past 12 months.
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Salary increases are most frequently linked to merit/performance (72 percent).
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Forty-two percent of respondents pay their sales staff on a salary + commission basis, while 46 percent pay straight salary.
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Thirty-eight percent indicate they have frozen salaries in the past 12 months and 13 percent have reduced salaries in the past 12 months.
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Less than half of responding companies (47 percent) pay bonuses to all employees.
About Benefits
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Fifty-three percent of respondents have changed benefits in some way in the past year. Twenty-seven percent have modified benefits, 19 percent have reduced benefits and 11 percent have added benefits.
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Fifty-seven percent have made changes to health care plans: 35 percent have changed/modified plans to save the company costs, 16 percent have done so to save employees costs and 27 percent have increased employee premiums.
About Staffing
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Nearly one in three respondents (31 percent) had layoffs in the past 12 months at an average 13 percent of staff. Primarily full-time (99 percent), but also part-time employees (29 percent) were laid off. Fourteen percent have reduced the hours of some employees.
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Positions most likely to have been laid off include administrative/clerical (50 percent), delivery (40 percent), billing/collections (40 percent) and sales (28 percent).
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In the past year, 46 percent of respondents have hired to fill open positions, while 33 percent have left an open position vacant.
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If conditions don't improve, 49 percent of respondents plan to take action concerning staffing or salaries.
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For each staffing category, the majority indicate staffing levels wll remain the same in 2010. Only 15 percent of respondents anticipate layoffs in 2010 at an average 12 percent of staff.
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Benefits & Bonuses
How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
| We have added benefits | 11.4% |
| We have modified existing benefits | 27.0% |
| We have reduced benefits | 19.2% |
| We have not changed our benefits | 45.2% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Benefits & Bonuses
If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
| Increased employee premiums | 27.4% |
| Changed/modified plans to save company costs | 35.2% |
| Changed/modified plans to save employee costs | 15.7% |
| Have not made any changes in the past 12 months | 30.2% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Benefits & Bonuses
How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
| Maintained bonuses previously offered | 40.2% |
| Have added bonuses for all employees | 3.2% |
| Have added bonuses for some employees | 5.0% |
| Have dropped bonuses for some employees | 16.4% |
| Have dropped bonuses for all employees | 12.8% |
| Do not pay bonuses | 23.5% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Benefits & Bonuses
What determines employee bonuses?
| Revenue goals | 63.8% |
| Performance goals | 59.6% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Benefits & Bonuses
Do you pay bonuses to:
| All staff | 46.5% |
| Sales personnel | 31.5% |
| Managers | 28.2% |
| Billing/Collections personnel | 17.8% |
| CSRs/Clerical personnel | 8.9% |
| Clinicians | 6.6% |
| Delivery personnel | 6.6% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Benefits & Bonuses
Common Employee Benefits
HME companies in this year's survey group spend an average 13% of salary on employee benefits, and an average 34% of revenue on salaries, commissions and bonuses for employees.
| Vacation | 86.5% |
| Holidays, including floater(s) | 77.9% |
| Medical insurance | 75.8% |
| Sick leave | 67.6% |
| Cell phone | 65.1% |
| Bonuses | 54.1% |
| 401 (k) plan | 50.5% |
| Personal time | 49.5% |
| Dental insurance | 47.0% |
| Trade show/convention/seminar expenses | 44.8% |
| Life insurance | 44.1% |
| Auto or auto allowance | 37.4% |
| Flexible work schedule | 35.6% |
| Vision insurance | 26.7% |
| Long-term disability plan | 26.3% |
| Short-term disability plan | 25.6% |
| Association memberships | 23.5% |
| Blackberry/PDA | 21.7% |
| Tuition reimbursement plan | 21.0% |
| Profit-sharing plan | 11.4% |
| Pension plan | 9.3% |
| Stock purchase plan/stock options | 3.2% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Raises & Reductions
Over the past 12 months, has your company:
| Given raises to any employee(s) | 53.0% |
| Frozen salaries | 38.1% |
| Reduced the salary of any employee(s) | 12.8% |
For companies giving raises:
- 5% was the average raise.
- On average, 68% of employees received raises.
- 15% was the average reduction.
- On average, 35% of employees received pay cuts.
- 22% reported pay cuts for all employees.
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Raises & Reductions
Have you laid off staff in the past 12 months?
For companies reporting layoffs:
- 13% of staff was the average layoff.
- 99% reported layoffs of full-time employees.
- 29% reported layoffs of part-time employees.
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Employees
Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Employees
If you have added staff, in what positions?
| Sales | 45.9% |
| Billing/Collections | 31.9% |
| Delivery | 30.4% |
| Administrative/Clerical | 26.7% |
| Clinicians/Therapists | 26.7% |
| CSRs | 20.0% |
| Managers | 16.3% |
| Warehouse | 13.3% |
| Service/Repair | 10.4% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Employees
Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
| Nurse (RN/LPN) | 27.0% |
| Pharmacist/Pharmacy technician (RPH) | 18.9% |
| Physical/Occupational therapist (PT, OT) | 8.2% |
| Respiratory therapist (RT, CRRT, RCP) | 56.9% |
| Rehab specialist (ATP/ATS) | 17.4% |
| None of these | 19.2% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Employees
Which of these positions do you employ?
| Compliance officer | 49.8% |
| Dispatcher | 17.1% |
| Information technology specialist | 25.6% |
| Service/Repair personnel | 56.2% |
| None of these | 21.7% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Employees
How many employees do you have?
| Annual Revenue | Average Number of Employees |
|---|---|
| Under $1 million | 6 |
| $1 million to $3.5 million | 26 |
| More than $3.5 million | 56 |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Employees
If employees have left in the past year, have you:
| Hired to fill the open position | 46.3% |
| Left the position vacant | 32.7% |
| No employees have left in the past year | 23.8% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Employees
If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
| Administrative/Clerical | 50.0% |
| Billing/Collections | 39.5% |
| Delivery | 39.5% |
| Sales | 27.9% |
| CSRs | 22.1% |
| Warehouse | 22.1% |
| Managers | 29.1% |
| Service/Repair | 20.9% |
| Clinicians/Therapists | 17.4% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Employees
Do you link salary increases to:
| Merit/Performance | 71.5% |
| Years of service | 35.2% |
| Profit | 26.3% |
| Sales | 23.1% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Annual & Hourly Salaries
Average annual salaries by job title*
| Job Title | 2009 | 2008 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median ($) | Mean ($) | Median ($) | Mean ($) | |
| Accounts receivable manager | 45,000 | 47,907 | 42,000 | 44,179 |
| Billing clerk | 30,000 | 30,158 | 28,150 | 29,115 |
| Bookkeeper/Asst. controller | 35,000 | 45,788 | 40,000 | 36,578 |
| CEO/President | 120,000 | 129,482 | 80,000 | 82,253 |
| Clerical/Administrative support | 25,000 | 26,437 | 25,000 | 24,430 |
| Compliance officer | 50,000 | 56,233 | 50,000 | 51,635 |
| Controller/VP finance | 80,000 | 98,742 | 61,500 | 61,713 |
| Customer service rep | 30,000 | 28,208 | 30,000 | 29,463 |
| Customer Svc. Mgr./Supervisor | 42,000 | 41,160 | 41,000 | 40,952 |
| Delivery technician | 30,000 | 29,368 | 25,250 | 26,954 |
| Information technology** | 54,000 | 53,000 | 55,000 | 54,761 |
| Nurse (RN/LPN) | 52,500 | 51,073 | 45,000 | 48,688 |
| Operations manager | 40,000 | 47,275 | 49,500 | 48,773 |
| Outside sales/Marketing rep | 50,000 | 50,121 | 50,000 | 49,606 |
| Rehab technician** | 50,000 | 54,183 | N/A | N/A |
| Respiratory therapist | 45,000 | 47,284 | 49,000 | 48,705 |
| Sales manager/VP sales | 70,000 | 76,226 | 60,000 | 65,150 |
| Service/Repair personnel | 30,000 | 32,626 | 31,250 | 30,308 |
| Store/Branch manager | 49,000 | 51,548 | 50,000 | 51,143 |
| Warehouse manager | 41,000 | 41,359 | 40,000 | 39,324 |
*The mean, or average, figures presented refer to the statistical mean, which is defined as "the value obtained by adding all the numeric answers given for a particular question and then dividing by the total number of respondents answering the question." The median is defined as the value that is exactly in the middle of all answers, or the point where half of the responses lie above and half of the responses lie below the value.
**Use these figures with caution, as fewer than 30 companies reported salaries for dispatchers, IT personnel and rehab technicians.
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Annual & Hourly Salaries
Average hourly wage by job title*
| Job Title | 2009 | 2008 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median ($) | Mean ($) | Median ($) | Mean ($) | |
| Accounts receivable manager | 16.50 | 17.18 | 16.50 | 16.55 |
| Billing clerk | 14.00 | 14.01 | 13.60 | 13.71 |
| Bookkeeper/Asst. controller | 16.00 | 17.83 | 14.00 | 13.75 |
| Clerical/Administrative support | 12.00 | 13.25 | 11.00 | 12.17 |
| Customer service rep | 12.60 | 13.24 | 13.00 | 13.43 |
| Customer Svc. Mgr./Supervisor | 17.00 | 16.18 | 16.00 | 16.41 |
| Delivery technician | 13.00 | 13.22 | 13.00 | 13.01 |
| Dispatcher** | 13.00 | 13.84 | 13.64 | 13.31 |
| Nurse (RN/LPN) | 20.50 | 25.53 | 24.00 | 25.47 |
| Operations manager | 16.00 | 16.39 | 16.00 | 16.53 |
| Respiratory therapist | 22.00 | 23.16 | 22.00 | 22.40 |
| Service/Repair personnel | 14.00 | 13.54 | 14.00 | 13.48 |
| Store/Branch manager | 18.00 | 19.08 | 19.50 | 21.39 |
| Warehouse manager | 16.00 | 15.74 | 13.75 | 14.85 |
*The mean, or average, figures presented refer to the statistical mean, which is defined as "the value obtained by adding all the numeric answers given for a particular question and then dividing by the total number of respondents answering the question." The median is defined as the value that is exactly in the middle of all answers, or the point where half of the responses lie above and half of the responses lie below the value.
**Use these figures with caution, as fewer than 30 companies reported salaries for dispatchers, IT personnel and rehab technicians.
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
About 2010
Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
Providers who think they will lay off employees next year anticipate laying off an average of 12% of staff.
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
About 2010
How will your staffing change in 2010?
| Increase | Decrease | No Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billing/Collections | 24.6% | 7.5% | 59.8% |
| Clinicians/Therapists | 16.7% | 5.3% | 64.1% |
| CSRs/Intake | 21.7% | 6.0% | 60.9% |
| Delivery Personnel | 27.0% | 6.8% | 55.9% |
| Outside Sales | 27.8% | 6.0% | 55.9% |
| Service/Repair staff | 11.4% | 3.9% | 72.6% |
| Warehouse | 8.9% | 4.6% | 72.2% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
About 2010
When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
| Refill all positions that have been eliminated | 5.3% |
| Refill only some of the positions that have been eliminated | 8.5% |
| We have "right-sized" our company and plan to keep it that way | 23.5% |
| We need to see what the outcome of competitive bidding (or other reimbursement cuts) will be before making staffing decisions | 43.8% |
| Unsure | 16.1% |
| No Answer | 2.8% |
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
About This Survey
Data for HomeCare's Salary & Benefits Survey were collected July 16 through Aug. 20, 2009. Of 281 qualified responses, 83 percent are from home medical equipment providers with other respondents from pharmacies/chain drug stores with HME, home health agencies with HME or other specialty segments. Just over half of the respondents (52 percent) operate one location, while 30 percent operate between two and four locations and 16 percent have five or more locations.
Forty-one percent of the companies participating in this year's survey operate primarily in DME MAC Jurisdiction C, with 19 percent operating in Jurisdiction D, 18 percent in Jurisdiction B and 14 percent in Jurisdiction A. Six percent of participating companies report nationwide operations. While 27 percent of respondents indicate annual revenues under $1 million, 13 percent have revenues of $10 million or more.
Figures presented are national means and medians across companies of all sizes. Not all respondents answered every question, and some totals may add to more than 100 percent due to multiple responses.
Survey methodology conforms to accepted marketing research methods, practices and procedures.
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information
Recent Salary & Benefits Surveys
- 2008 HME Salary Survey
- 2006 HME Salary Survey
- 2004 HME Salary Survey
- 2003 HME Salary Survey
- 2002 HME Salary Survey
- 2001 HME Salary Survey
- 2000 HME Salary Survey
2009 Salary & Benefits Survey Questions
Benefits & Bonuses
- How have your benefits changed in the past 12 months?
- If you offer medical insurance, over the past 12 months, have you:
- How has your bonus offering changed in the past 12 months?
- What determines employee bonuses?
- Do you pay bonuses to:
- Common Employee Benefits
Raises & Reductions
Employees
- Have you added staff in the past 12 months?
- If you have added staff, in what positions?
- Which of these licensed/credentialed positions do you employ?
- Which of these positions do you employ?
- How many employees do you have?
- If employees have left in the past year, have you:
- If you have laid off staff, in what positions?
- Do you link salary increases to:
Annual & Hourly Salaries
About 2010
- Do you anticipate layoffs in 2010?
- How will your staffing change in 2010?
- When economic/industry conditions improve, will you:
Other Information