"We're very happy with our system. It's totally up-to-date with all the changes that are needed in the industry without charging extra."
-- A CAU Client from Georgia

Straight Answers to HME Providers' Frequently Asked Questions

How Can Your HME Business Benefit from upgrading to true, user-friendly HME/DME software?

Here are just a few of the many ways that you can benefit:

Proven Technology

As you're well aware, the HME industry serves up numerous challenges on a regular basis. Unfortunately for a number of software vendors, they recently decided to completely start over, rebuilding every function from square one, using different technology. Since their previous technology failed them, how long will the latest fad last?

Solution/One HME software has been (and continues to be) developed using proven technology and a file structure that allows for flexibility and expansion. The result for you? A jump start on payer requirements whenever the rules change.

As an example, since CAU writes its own electronic claims modules and communications programs, one of our clients transmitted the very first Medicare claim in the HIPAA-required ANSI format back in May, 2002. As a more recent example, CAU clients began using NPIs at the earliest opportunity, months prior to their required use.

We can make upgrading easy for you, even if you're using outdated hardware. You can rely on our technological expertise to keep your HME business on top, too.

Printing a Single Customer Statement

Since many self-pay customers request annual statements, you can easily generate individual Customer Statements for span dates that you determine. "Depending on your requirements, statements may include details of purchases for selected transactions, balance due, aging information, due date, credit information, and other account details." - direct quote from our always-up-to-date Solution/One HME reference manual.

Printing CMNs and DIFs

One of your ongoing goals should be to analyze expenses and lower them where appropriate. One of the expenses that CAU can eliminate for you is buying and stocking cases of CMS CMN forms.

From your duplex laser printer, you can generate single or batch CMS CMNs and DIFs onto plain white paper - both fronts and backs. No more form alignment issues; no more remembering to stock the proper forms into the proper paper tray; no more running out of supplies of critical CMN forms. Won't that lead to increased office productivity, too?

Fully-integrated Retail Sales

Our user-friendly HME software makes quick work of point-of-sale purchases and refunds. Select an existing customer from the Cash Register or easily add a new customer's demographics on the fly. Line items populate all fields, including appropriate retail pricing and sales tax (where appropriate). Our software even remembers sale prices and automatically reverts back to regular prices once the sale expires. Inventory depletes and a full receipt prints as you finalize the sale.

Beyond those basics, you can further accelerate your retail sales by scanning UPCs, automating discount pricing, overriding pricing and taxes, and much more. Print a Daily Cash Sales report to review revenue generated.

Always Up-to-date Documentation

As soon as you're ready for your new HME software, we'll provide an implementation guide as part of your starter kit. These step-by-step instructions explain how, working together, we'll get your system up and billing as quickly as possible.

New major releases require accurate release notes, so we provide them to you. Additionally, we've documented every function of your new HME software in an online reference manual. Far from a stagnant, dated document, this comprehensive documentation tool is available in PDF with corresponding bookmarks for easy searches and printing.

We've even taken fresh documentation a step farther by implementing an online, keyword searchable "How To" Knowledgebase. We include all of these resources as soon as you become a new CAU client.

Automate the Entire Advanced Beneficiary Notice Process

Filling out ABNs by hand? Manually adjusting inventory? Using a calculator to adjust your AR? Our user-friendly HME software automates all of it for you!

One tab during Order Entry determines the specific CMS ABN definition, allows you to select the precise ABN reason, determines the correct G modifier, depletes inventory, and sets up accurate invoicing based on the ABN. It just works.

Although ABNs have been available for quite some time, Solution/One HME is the only software that automates the process. Our clients love it!

Coinsurance Electronic Claims

Since we develop and maintain our own electronic claims programs, you're not restricted to a limited number of payers, primary only claims, or a one-size-fits-all attitude. Our clients appreciate this flexibility, so they can enjoy submitting coinsurance electronic claims, exclusive edit and exception reports based on each payer's electronic specifications, automated connections, ERN Autoposting advantages, and much more.

When payers change electronic specs, you're not at the mercy of a third-party conglomerate. We take responsibility for updating our programs for our clients. We have the experience and the expertise in-house, so we welcome the challenge.

Real-time Inventory Management

From POs and receiving stock, to real-time balances and documented serialized history, you can "count on" our inventory control. Since products are products and inventory is a reflection of those products, Product-to-Vendor associations, automated requisitions, back orders, service cycles, and lot tracking take your inventory management to a new level.

You can even automatically document rental exchanges, cost updates, ordering equipment for specific customers, multi-location inventory, and more. If you need more efficiency, choose among our PDA Computing programs to scan bar codes. You may actually look forward to your next full or partial physical inventory experience!

Inpatient Admissions and Billing

Believe it or not, just enter the patient's admission and discharge dates. Where appropriate, your new user-friendly HME software will recalculate months on rental, prorate billing, and record each patient's admissions history.

Flexible Capped Rentals

If your software or service doesn't automate capped rentals, including price adjustments and modifiers, you need to see how easy it can be. You define the capping relationship (for example, number of months, maintenance and service, CMS modifiers, etc.) between each product and each payer.

If a given payer's capped rental policy changes (even for one specific product), you can update your rental products to comply in mere minutes. Capped rentals don't get any easier than this.

Straightforward User Licenses

What's the maximum number of individuals who may be logged into your system at any given time? That's the fair way to distribute software licenses. Please understand that you can still set up 25 different user logins and passwords, and then purchase or access ten Solution/One HME user licenses.

Site or location-based licenses may sound cost-effective, but if you compare the overall software benefits, ask yourself, "How many of my automation goals does each system meet or exceed?"

Ask yourself: could a site license be detrimental to the growth of my business? Would I need to purchase another location-based license just for an off-site warehouse? How flexible are order intake, inventory, sales tax, and reporting for my multiple locations?

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Thank you for helping CAU celebrate our 20th Anniversary during 2007! Quickly contact us by e-mailing or by calling 717-541-0651. We look forward to working with you and your HME business.