Feb 08

An ambulatory product can be as simple as a crutch. Patients need ambulatory products for a variety of reasons. Congenital birth defects, accidents,  post surgery recovery, and disease states can require an aid for just getting around.

Quick Change Crutch

Quick Change Crutch

Crutches are the simplest form along with wheel chairs. Within each category there are appliances, optional equipment, and accessories that can be purchased. There are different types of crutches including forearm crutches, wood crutches, aluminum crutches, and numerous types of walkers and canes to assist with patients ability to get from one place to another with a minimum of assistance. Crutch mates include rubber handles to assure a better grip as well as under arm pads to give comfort from weight contact to the crutch itself.  Crutch tips or crutch feet provide comfort, ease and control of wear of both the crutch as well as floors in the home or office.

Modern design and hybrids of walker and wheel chairs called Rollators are now available. This device looks like a walker with wheels. Rollators

Rollator

Rollator

have many accessories and options to include brakes for control and baskets to carry items while shopping, or anything the patient may need during his trip. Bariatric Rollators are available as are Crutches. The brake, often referred to as the Loop Brake, provides the patient with more control of his travel.

Rollators have 4 wheels and are made of aluminum. They come in various sizes and shapes. Economy Rollators as well as the deluxe Rollator are available to accommodate all frequency of use situations. The knee walker is a rollator and is often used in place of a crutch. Invacare makes a variety of these types of devices.

With the needs of children services, pediatrics rollators, pediatric walkers, pediatric crutches, also referred to as jr are available . There are also brands that are light weight like the Rollite. These Walkers and Rollators come in various colors including Blue and Red.

Rollators sometimes can be found wih seats and backrests. Accessories for Rollators can be purchased along with all replacement parts like a 5“ wheel. Continue reading »

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Feb 01

The Internet provides an excellent ability to save on the cost of durable medical goods. The shrinking reimbursements as well as the elimination of a payment component for living or life aids, is putting the financial burden on the insured. Patients are surfing the internet, looking for lower priced goods, that offer assistance to daily life for handicapped people and various other people that need help with every day tasks.

This product category carries a range of products that include everything from Walking Aids to specially formed eating utensils.

Physicians and home healthcare stores were the sole source vendors, prior to the Internet. It is important to know what you are buying. Wheelchairs for instance, Medicare may pay $400-$500 for an Invacare Wheel Chair, when the same make and model can be found for under $300.00 by someone that is a private payer. Since there are laws regarding payment to the government that cover full disclosure by a vendor, and lowest prices charged, a store that takes Medicare, cannot sell the wheelchair or any other goods, lower than it charges the U.S. Government.

Since we know how poorly our Government negotiates prices, you now can assume, when you pay yourself, your going to have to pay those prices. Continue reading »

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