HOMELINK is an innovative, national provider of integrated ancillary services to the healthcare and workers compensation industries. As a privately held, employee-owned company, our associates are naturally motivated to help the payers, patients and providers we service achieve great outcomes. Our commitment to deliver superior customer service is backed by our proprietary technology to ensure that information is received timely for a coordinated and efficient offering across the continuum of care.
As a subsidiary of the VGM Group, Inc., HOMELINK benefits from the experience of a group purchasing organization for healthcare providers of home medical equipment. For 37 years, VGM has been building communities and providing solutions and resources to more than 25,000 companies in the healthcare industry. Our knowledgeable employee owners understand the challenges that businesses face and provide the support needed to overcome them.
Over the past 30 years, HOMELINK has grown from a groundbreaking idea to the top-rated entity in our industry. Our 650+ employee owners have achieved a customer satisfaction rating of 99.6% by connecting more than 1,200 payers to over 50,000 credentialed, community-based providers, and providing highquality care to over 30 million people.
Our services are available 24/7, and our call center is staffed from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST on weekdays. However, our team is committed to staying until all imminent needs are met for those scheduled until 7:00 p.m. On Saturdays, we have a team that follows up to confirm delivery of items or services rendered for any late Friday or Saturday needs. We also have dedicated on-call associates and managers available around the clock to answer questions, coordinate referrals, and ensure adequate care.
HOMELINK is the nation’s largest network of community-based providers, with more than 4,500 members throughout all 50 states. Independent providers join our network to conduct business easily, quickly, and efficiently. As a provider within HOMELINK’s network, their service is valued, and we are committed to developing a great partnership with each of them.
HOMELINK has a dedicated Provider Relations team that focuses on our provider interactions. Each Director of Provider Relations annually surveys the network for process improvements. Through our engagement we have reviewed initiatives for turnaround times, remittance advice, portal enhancements, etc.
When a local provider is not available, HOMELINK has the ability to access our direct manufacturer relationships with key manufacturers like Medtronic Minimed, Insulet, and Tandem for diabetic products.
HOMELINK is a National Provider Network that currently has contracts with many insurance companies and other payer sources to provide in-network services, including medically needed products and services, to their clients. Providing superior quality service to these patients is a cornerstone of our business.
These companies require HOMELINK to credential providers that provide goods and/or services to their members/clients. Credentialing is reviewed and completed every three years.
We have made a strong commitment to compliance and security with a focus on running an ethical organization that does things right, protects the best interests of our clients, and has certified professionals on board who take compliance, privacy, and information security seriously.
For the last several years, HOMELINK has tested and verified its compliance and security programs through System and Organization Controls (SOC) 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 examinations. Each examination is completed on an annual basis. HOMELINK has stood up to independent auditor scrutiny during these examinations by being issued clean, unqualified reports. Through these examinations, we have implemented and maintain an inventory of approximately 130 unique operational, financial,
security, and availability SOC 1 and SOC 2 internal controls, that assist in ensuring client data is always kept secure.
This is a testament to HOMELINK’s commitment to implementing compliance and security best practices, by ensuring client data is safely protected at all times. This helps forge trust with clients that we safely process customer information, all while providing exceptional service in coordinating patient care, distributing products to patients’ residences, assisting clients with their insurance and educational needs, developing their online presence and marketing needs, and so much more.
Our goal is to enhance the member experience through strong technology and industry best practices without taking away from our member focus. Our Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Reference Guide describes specific requirements for exchanging electronic transactions directly with HOMELINK.
SOC1 Type2
SOC2 Type2
Payment Card Industry Compliant
WorkCompEDI
Smart Data Solutions
Ametros
Conduent
Medata
DaisyBill
EK Health
Willing to connect to other clearinghouses if needed
270/271 Eligibility
837P and can do custom builds
835 provider transmissions
Utilize secure communications for all data transmissions.
Enforce Transport Layer Security (TLS) with email.
Secure FTP when transferring EDI files.
Authorized claim users access patient information using a valid 256 Bit SSL Certificate encryption.
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800-482-1993
800-482-1993
vgmhomelink.com
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Our business is built on uncompromised service. Each and every HOMELINK associate takes ownership of their work and interactions with those they serve. While other companies utilize offshore customer service functions, HOMELINK believes every call should be answered personally by an associate with dedicated training and industry knowledge located here at our home office.
We measure our service with Net Promoter Scoring (NPS). Our overall NPS is 55.0, approximately a 3 times more positive experience than health care industry benchmarks.
NPS isn’t just marketing spin — it is truly part of HOMELINK’s culture. Research shows positive member experiences have a significant correlation to faster recovery and reduction in cost. It’s a fairly obvious outcome, but service that drives experience is typically the first thing companies cut to optimize their financials.
Since 1993, we have put our focus and investments into process refinement, service, and creation of positive experiences — leading us to a 99.7% client retention rate. *Andrews,
You can be certain you will receive only the best from HOMELINK. This is our commitment to you.
Our national provider network is unique to say the least. We focus on building relationships with community-based providers along with national providers and manufacturers. All network providers undergo a strict credentialing process and are monitored by our Quality Assurance team that follows URAC and NCQA guidelines, leaving you access to only the highest quality providers.
We believe cost containment is the product of great processes. Without processes that manage utilization, complete savings will never be realized. Price is not the sole metric. It is with this understanding that we design our workflows so utilization is managed and maximum savings are achieved.
All our solutions are facilitated under a single platform. Our system creates flexibility and allows processes to be customized to your needs while maintaining operational consistency, something that is crucial in the overall HOMELINK experience. Business intelligence capabilities provide you a suite of interactive reports, showcasing savings, utilization, and trends.
ASSOCIATES EAGER TO LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS TIMELY AND ACCURATE FOLLOW-UP
KNOWLEDGEABLE ASSOCIATES PASSIONATE ABOUT CARE SOLUTIONS, NOT EXCUSES
Net Promoter Score (NPS) is more than just another acronym and a bunch of numbers. At its core, NPS is a loyalty metric that helps businesses determine how people feel about them.
If you ask our company to pick one thing we value above all else, we say experience. At HOMELINK, fostering positive experience is ingrained in our culture. We connect members, payers, and providers, so those relationships are important to thousands of individuals. The way we’re implementing NPS tracking is about so much more than just seeing how people feel about us — it pulls our culture directly into our operations.
If all NPS did was help us cultivate relationships, that honestly would be enough. But, the effect of having a real-time experience metric is diagnosing a more serious problem long before you’d historically figure it out.
Because our NPS is tracked in real time, we can detect when issues arise more quickly than we would have in the past.
With firmly planted roots in the durable medical equipment (DME) industry and powered by relationships with over 18,000 credentialed providers and manufacturers, HOMELINK is without question the leader in DME/O&P/Supplies.
With the help of experts who are intimately involved in every aspect of the industry from regulation to equipment manufacturing, you will not find another provider network as insightful as HOMELINK.
HOMELINK’S
MANUAL & POWER WHEELCHAIRS
PNEUMATIC COMPRESSION DEVICES
Annual Commodity Reviews
BONE GROWTH STIMULATORS
ELECTROMEDICAL
Increased InNetwork Benefit Levels
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
PROSTHETICS
51.30% Average Savings
The purpose of the HOMELINK prosthetic management process is to ensure medical appropriateness and management of medical expenses associated with the dispensing of prosthetic devices. Our prosthetic patient care coordinators (PCCs) work hand-in-hand with our clinical review team and staff prosthetists. Each prosthetic device ordered is assessed and evaluated to confirm the member receives the device they need and no unnecessary additions are included.
Claims with the following characteristics qualify for review:
• Myoelectric upper extremity prosthetics
• System upgrades to microprocessors
• Excessive utilization of miscellaneous codes
• Excessive socket changes
MISCELLANEOUS CODE MANAGEMENT REAUTHORIZATION RENT-TO-PURCHASE
A dedicated team reviews all miscellaneous codes for proper usage, establishing a clear picture of utilization is obtained. The result for one client:
Reduction of $562,500 in spending.
Focuses on member compliance with rental equipment and supplies through a defined follow-up workflow monitoring utilization. If a member is no longer using the equipment or supplies, HOMELINK notifies the claims professional and establishes next steps.
• Replacement prior to 2 years $637,998
By exercising strict business rules, our rent-to-purchase program spots costly overbilling once the purchase price of a product has been met by the cumulative rental payments.
One client’s savings: 1,700,000 $
Client realized in savings.
With an increasing number of members receiving home respiratory therapy, there is a challenge in continuing to guarantee access to home respiratory equipment while maintaining quality of care. Member experience is a cornerstone of high quality care. HOMELINK’s home respiratory program covers all home oxygen and respiratory needs including:
A tenured home oxygen provider network with a comprehensive compliance program.
Our network of providers supplying home oxygen needs are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to address any late-night needs.
Oxygen, gas & liquid
Portable & concentrators
Respiratory supplies
CPAP
BiPAP
Nebulizers
Ventilators
Respiratory Therapists on staff to work through fitting and comfort challenges.
These coupled with our tracking of the oxygen equipment’s utilization, supply reordering, and maintenance scheduling result in a comprehensive home respiratory program focused on the health of your members.
Issues are handled IMMEDIATELY with resolution implemented within AN AVERAGE OF
With HOMELINK your members will have a national solution to obtain insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and supplies covered under their DME benefits from top diabetic manufacturers in the industry: Medtronic Minimed, Tandem, Insulet, Dexcom and Abbott. Through our direct connection to the manufacturers, and through distributors, we are able to offer our services on a national level.
24%
He just knows his hero is back.
There’s nothing “ancillary” about helping people get back to their work and life. It’s personal. Because behind every claim is a person who just wants to be there for those they love.
That’s why we do what we do.
The Physician Only Network option provides you flexibility and cost containment in a singular solution with HOMELINK. HOMELINK offers a solution to process physician-only and ancillary service claims within a singular network option, allowing you to control your healthcare costs.
Increased in-network claims processing
Flexible functionality options
At a time when many networks reduce payments by small margins, PMCS stands behind its Medicare “plus pricing” commitment to creating positive outcomes for all parties.
Through HOMELINK, combine over 600,000 physicians and 50,000+ ancillary providers for the highest savings penetration in the market.
Reasonable reimbursement controls
HOMELINK Ancillary Locations
Physician Locations
HOMELINK’s Hearing Health Care brings clinical expertise and oversight to hearing claims, ensuring medical necessity is met, not exceeded. With over 5,000 providers across the country, HOMELINK’s Hearing Health Care offers you one of the most extensive networks and the strongest savings in the industry.
REPAIR VS. REPLACE
HOMELINK simultaneously provides the proper device to the patient and cost savings to the payer.
FDA requires that hearing aid manufacturers repair all hearing aids with original parts for at least five years, eliminating the fictitious need to replace hearing aids every three years.
VALUE BUNDLE PRICING
Your price includes the cost of hearing aids, one year of provider services, ear molds, a three-year warranty program, and five years of batteries.
OVERSIGHT
A dedicated patient care coordinator follows your member through all levels of care, supporting the member from beginning to end.
$2,200 PER ORDER $11,000 PER LIFETIME SAVINGS STANDARD 3-YEAR REPAIR WARRANTY
5 YEAR BATTERY SUPPLY PROGRAM
TOTAL MEMBER SUPPORT
Utilizing a network of local and on-staff Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) licensed providers, our team excels at recommending medically appropriate and individually configured mobility equipment across the country. HOMELINK specializes in comprehensive monitoring of cases following a member’s progress as they return home. With the help of the Functional Mobility Assessment (FMA) and staff ATP, our network of specialty providers shows outcomes superior to their peers.
78% increase in member satisfaction
64% decrease in reported falls
82% reduction in readmissions due to seating mobility incidents
52% decrease in skin breakdown
Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) requires a dedicated team to identify the most medically necessary and cost-effective equipment to promote quality of life.
• Complex powerchair systems
• Highly configured manual wheelchairs
• Adaptive seating
• Alternative seating systems
• Equipment repairs
• Other specialized mobility devices
Supported by medical findings cited by CMS, Home Sleep Testing is replacing traditional costly facility studies.
SLEEP LAB TESTING
THE PROCESS
Night spent at the sleep lab, numerous electrodes applied
HOME SLEEP TESTING
Device delivered, 3 or minimal sensors applied before bedtime
REFERRAL TO TREATMENT 2-5 days 2-12 weeks
KEY DIFFERENCE
BILLED COST
Ideal for seriously ill patients and complicated cases
$1,600-$5,000
Simpler and less expensive
$325-$350
WITH HOMELINK HOME SLEEP TESTING YOU GAIN ACCESS TO
A comprehensive program offering a cost-effective and time-sensitive solution for diagnosing and treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
A national network of providers to set up diagnostic studies and, if necessary, the autotitrating CPAP.
Resupply service facilitated by HOMELINK.
It is a priority for HOMELINK to continuously engage and review home infusion claims to ensure appropriate, cost-effective care.
Home infusion therapy imparts significant cost savings compared to the traditional infusion setting of a hospital or infusion suite. Where hospitalization costs upwards of $1,500 to $2,500 per day, the average cost of home infusion is $150 to $200 per day.
One study found infusion therapy provided at alternate sites of care, such as the home, is significantly more costeffective than infusion therapy provided at other sites of care such as the hospital, resulting in savings for both the patient and the health plan of up to 60%. Additionally, potential savings accrued by preventing hospital-acquired infections was significant. These types of infections are directly related to $28 to $45 billion a year in hospital costs.
Home infusion therapy is used for the following medical purposes:
Antibiotic
Anti-coagulation
Anti-emetics
Anti-haemophilic
Chemotherapy
Enteral nutrition
Hydration
Pain management
Inotropic
HOMELINK’s nationwide network of home health providers covers the many needs of patients in the home. From nursing, in-home therapies, and IV services to medical supplies and pharmacy services, our patient care coordinators ensure medical treatment is functionally based and medically necessary.
Backed by a clinical team of licensed nursing professionals, HOMELINK’s processes are designed to control over-utilization, procurement, and billing integrity — all designed to provide you low cost.
HOMELINK’s Clinical Review Process provides the most appropriate care to the patient in the most efficient manner while reducing cost. This is accomplished through proactive review of the patient’s needs conducted by seasoned, licensed nursing professionals. Clinical oversight begins the moment of referral intake and moves through the continuum of cares.
Member’s acuity level determines the frequency of step-down evaluations, review of patient notes, and comprehensive evaluations by their assigned Clinical Review nurse.
Level 1
Patients requiring the highest level of detailed action.
Level 2
Patients requiring continuous evaluation. Typically individuals have completed rehabilitation and are moving into stabilized living.
Level 3
Patients requiring periodic evaluation. Patients are in a home setting.
Level 4
Patients with ongoing care needs that cannot be lowered due to maximized efficiencies or other circumstances. May include patients with ongoing complex care needs.
We emphasize the home setting as much as possible for infusion to contain costs. Utilizing clinically-designed procedures covering the broad scope of infusion therapies, our focus is to ensure patients remain compliant, desired outcomes, and costs are contained.
13,000+ infusion products
250+ specialty providers
6,000+ network providers
• Beds
• Wheelchairs
• Scooters
• Patient lifts
• CPM machines
• Cold therapy
• Aids to daily living
• Custom, manual and power wheelchairs
• Breast pumps
• Ostomy
• Colostomy
• Wound care
• Incontinence
• Insulin pumps
• Glucometers
• EBI
• Orthofix
• Test strips
• All supplies
• DJO
• Exogen
• IV antibiotic
• Pain management
• TPN/enteral therapy
• IVIG/anti-coagulant
• Hydration
• Upper and lower extremity prosthetics
• Orthotic braces and supports
• Therapies: PT/OT/ST
• RNs/high-tech RNs
• LPNs
• Home health aides and CNAs
• Therapies: PT/OT/ST
• Acupuncture
• Medi-Stim 23T
• Premium TENS units
• Muscle stimulators
• Chiropractic care
• Massage therapy
• Interferential stimulators
• Galvanic stimulators
• Home, vehicle, and workplace modifications
• On-site evaluations with project manager
• Driving evaluations
• Towing services
• Vehicle inspections
• Vehicle lifts
• Adaptive equipment
• Van and truck conversions
• Vehicle purchases
• Ambulatory
• Includes rideshare
• Wheelchair
• Stretcher
• ALS/BLS
• Air ambulance
• Commercial transportation
• Air travel, bus
• Hotel accommodations
• On-site
• Qualified interpreter
• Telephonic
• Document translation
• Oxygen (gas and liquid)
• CPAP/BiPAP
• Nebulizers
• Ventilators
• Respiratory supplies
• Hearing aids
• Hearing evaluation/ testing
• BAHA accessories
• Cochlear implant accessories
• Hearing aid batteries
• Wax filters
• Custom ear molds
• Hearing aid accessories
• Wound vacs
• OxyGeni
• Closed-head injuries
• Quadriplegics and paraplegics
• Online enrollment and screening
• Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea
• PAP therapy setup and instruction
• Compliance coaching by our staff
• Burn patients
• Amputees
