Liberty Medical

Liberty Medical Supply, Inc. ("Liberty Medical") is a company that sells diabetes testing supplies, prescription drugs, and ostomy supplies directly to consumers. [ [http://www.libertymedical.com/diabetes/liberty-medical/default.aspx Diabetes: Liberty Medical offers quality diabetes supplies and services ] ] Liberty Medical was a wholly-owned brand of PolyMedica, which was, in turn, purchased by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. in 2007. [ [http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/28/polymedica-medco-merger-markets-equity-cx_af_0828markets06.html Medco To Buy PolyMedica - Forbes.com ] ] Liberty Medical's corporate headquarters are located in Port St. Lucie, Florida. [ [http://www.libertymedical.com/diabetes/contact-us/mail-and-email-addresses.aspx Diabetes: Liberty Medical offers quality diabetes supplies and services ] ] The company claims to send the supplies "right to your door, with no charge for shipping." [ [https://www.libertymedical.com/diabetes/diabetes-supplies-service/default.aspx Diabetes Supplies: Liberty Medical offers quality diabetes supplies ] ] Commercials promoting this service air frequently on daytime TV in the United States and feature veteran character actor Wilford Brimley, who has been the spokesman since 1999; Other celebrity diabetics who have done at least one commercial for the company include Nell Carter, Phylicia Rashad and Delta Burke.

Liberty Medical Services

A pioneer in the direct-to-patient supply and service model, Liberty Medical services more than one million patients through home delivery of their diabetes testing supplies, prescription medications, and other healthcare products that they need to manage their diabetes and related conditions. [PolyMedica 2007 Annual Report] Since Liberty Medical offers free shipping and files insurance claims on the patient’s behalf, in many cases the service results in no charge to the patient.

Liberty Medical has been expanding its product lines, offering a host of medical services and supplies in addition to diabetes supplies, such as prescription drugs, a personal emergency response system, sleep apnea equipment including CPAP masks, as well as ostomy and incontinence supplies. [http://www.libertymedical.com/diabetes/diabetes-products/default.aspx]

Patient Centric Approach

Liberty Medical seeks to set itself apart from its competition by providing high quality customer care that includes administrative and educational support. The company speaks directly with patients and their physicians regarding testing regimens and prescriptions, reminds patients when it’s time to reorder, and otherwise encourages compliance with doctors’ orders. [PolyMedica 2007 Annual Report]

To enhance patient support, the company acquired [http://www.intellicare.com/ IntelliCare] , a disease management call center that has a nationwide distributed network of healthcare professionals. Liberty Medical's diabetes patients call nurses through this system to access telephonic support. Liberty Medical also offers the services of certified diabetes educators who teach patients how to use their glucose meters and other equipment, and provide guidance on diet and nutrition.

According to Liberty Medical, their “high touch” communications model results in better diabetes management and patient outcomes, which the company claims can reduce the high cost of diabetes on the national healthcare system.

Partnership with the American Diabetes Association (ADA)

Liberty Medical is a major contributor to the [http://www.diabetes.org American Diabetes Association] (ADA), supporting the organization and its mission to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of people affected by the disease. The company and the ADA collaborate in providing educational information to patients, including a campaign and series of articles entitled “I decide” published in Liberty’s "Health Matters" magazine.

"Health Matters" Magazine

Liberty Medical is the publisher of Health Matters – a quarterly publication with a circulation of 1.2 million that focuses on diabetes health topics of interest to seniors. [http://www.libertymedical.com/diabetes/diabetes-awareness/2008-summer/default.aspx]

Awards

Liberty Medical's former parent company, PolyMedica, was ranked sixth in the Boston Globe’s “Globe 100” (Best of Massachusetts’ Business) in May of 2006. [http://www.boston.com/business/globe/globe100/2007/profiles/PLMD.htm]

Responding to an Epidemic

Diabetes has become the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Millions of people with diabetes must deal with serious complications, from heart disease and blindness to kidney failure and amputations. According to the [http://www.diabetes.org American Diabetes Association] (ADA), nearly 21 million Americans suffer from the disease. Another 40 million are at risk of becoming diabetics. Globally, the impact of diabetes is comparable to HIV/AIDS, claiming 3.8 million lives every year.

In the U.S., the incidence of diabetes has tripled since 1975. One in three children born in the country is expected to develop the disease during their lifetime. As the U.S. population ages, combined with the rise in obesity among children, the disease is expected to strike many more people. By 2025, the number of Americans suffering from diabetes is projected to rise from roughly one in 14 to almost one in 10.

[http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/aag/ddt.htm The Center for Disease Control and Prevention] calculates the annual cost of diabetes in 2002 as $132 billion.

Liberty Medical Websites

Liberty Medical's official website is located at [http://www.libertymedical.com www.libertymedical.com] where visitors can learn about Liberty offers and products and watch videos from certified diabetes educators, employees, and customers. The company also has a YouTube channel [http://www.youtube.com/libertymedical] .

Liberty Medical in Popular Culture

Liberty Medical TV commercials have been parodied on "Family Guy" and "Saturday Night Live". Since those parodies, YouTube users have created "mash-ups" of Liberty TV commercials featuring Wilford Brimley, garnering hundreds of thousands of views and creating an internet meme. Internet users have also posted pictures captioned "Diabeetus" in reference to Brimley's pronunciation of diabetes.

Regulatory Affairs

In 2001-2003 Polymedica Corp. and its subsidiaries Liberty Medical Supply and Liberty Home Pharmacy Corp. agreed to pay the U.S. $35 million to resolve allegations that they submitted improper claims to Medicare for various diabetic and nebulizer products. Claims were allegedly submitted without a required doctor's order or prescription, and the companies failed to obtain and maintain documentation verifying the necessity of the level of treatment rendered. The companies also allegedly billed Medicare without written authority from a patient to do so. Under terms of the settlement, Polymedica agreed to comply with a corporate integrity agreement negotiated by HHS/OIG.

References

[http://www.libertymedical.com/diabetes/diabetes-products/default.aspx] [http://www.libertymedical.com/diabetes/diabetes-awareness/2008-summer/default.aspx] [PolyMedica 2007 Annual Report] [http://www.boston.com/business/globe/globe100/2007/profiles/PLMD.htm] [http://homecaremag.com/news/medicare-anti-fraud/] [http://www.answers.com/topic/polymedica-corporation]

External links

[http://www.libertymedical.com Liberty Medical's official website] [http://www.youtube.com/libertymedical Liberty Medical's YouTube page]