Medical equipment leasing holds steady

It may come as a surprise in the current economy, but prospects for medical equipment leasing are looking good – and not just compared to other vertical markets.

And those figures aren’t small. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that businesses invested about $81.6 billion in health care equipment in the year 2010. With approximately 62 percent of all U.S. health care equipment being financed, that brings the health care equipment finance marketplace to an estimated $506 billion in 2010, according to the Bureau, as reported by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA).

According to a 2011 survey by the Independent Equipment Company together with ELFA, medical equipment has been rated – for the sixth year in a row – as the type of equipment finance companies anticipate to have the greatest total dollar amount of new business volume.

Recent statistics bear this out; ELFA has found that member companies financed for medical imaging and electronic devices increased from 4.4 percent in 2009 to 4.5 percent in 2010.

This is not a decades-long trend, according to Global Industry Analysts (GIA). The research firm notes that medical equipment lease financing in the United States had been relatively low until five or six years ago, due to lack of awareness about leasing, reduction in reimbursements, and heavy regulations influencing physician referrals. But recently, note the researchers, health care institutions have come to see leasing medical equipment as an affordable and quick solution that saves working capital, provides options for purchasing the equipment, and facilitates upgrades to new technology.

IT is the “it” product

While medical equipment leasing has been stable, the software arena has experienced tremendous growth, particularly with the added interest in electronic medical records (EMR). “Every year over the past three years, medical leasing in IT has almost doubled,” explains French. “The tax incentive is definitely driving the market. It’s a phenomenon.”

The trend is expected to continue. GIA anticipates that medical IT equipment leasing and rentals will reach $56 billion by 2017. Interestingly, GIA notes that Europe is the single largest regional market for medical equipment rental and leasing worldwide, with the practice being particularly popular in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The United States is next in line in market share.

Read entire article: http://www.dotmed.com/news/story/16907

Mazuma Capital: Chairman Ben S. Bernanke

Mazuma Capital: Chairman Ben S. Bernanke: Economic Outlook and Recent Monetary Policy Actions Before the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C. October 4, 2011 ...

Chairman Ben S. Bernanke

Economic Outlook and Recent Monetary Policy Actions

Before the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C.

October 4, 2011

http://www.mazumacapital.com/?p=1344

Time for Stimulus

Diamond: We Need Stimulus Now

Peter Diamond, who won the 2010 Nobel prize in economics but ultimately abandoned a bid to serve on the Federal Reserve, talks with WSJ's Kelly Evans about why he supports "Operation Twist," and why more fiscal stimulus is need to fix the U.S. jobs problem.

http://online.wsj.com/video/diamond-we-need-stimulus-now/B5170210-C45C-486A-85F3-D3F7BCF527EE.html

Mazuma Capital Partners: Survey: US Capital-Equipment Financing Strengthene...

Mazuma Capital Partners: Survey: US Capital-Equipment Financing Strengthene...: Equipment Leasing and Finance Association survey shows rising loan and leasing activity for capital equipment --Choppy month-to-month activ...

Mazuma Capital Funds Hires David M. Eckman as Vice President of Vendor Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-

DRAPER, UTAH SEPTEMBER 23, 2011–Mazuma Capital Corp announced that David M. Eckman has joined Mazuma Capital as the Vice President, of Vendor Services. The Vendor Services division will provide turnkey financing services to vendors, manufacturers and distributors seeking $100,000- $20,000,000.

David brings phenomenal expertise to Mazuma Captial through his extensive background in diversified management and finance.  Prior to joining Mazuma David worked with several financial institutions including Orix Credit Alliance, where he maintained the integrity of transaction fundings and regulatory processes.  David holds a B.S. Business Administration / Finance degree from, Oregon State University.

Mazuma Capital CEO Jared Belnap said, “We are excited about adding David to head up our Vendor Services division.  This division will provide a wide range of customized programs, turnkey solutions, and outstanding service.  David has a strong customer base and process history of developing these programs into successful ventures from his years at Orix and we’re thrilled to see him parlay this expertise into meaningful production, adding to Mazuma’s strong brand and market presence.”

 “I am very excited to join the Mazuma Capital team, and look forward to the continued growth and success of the Vendor Program.   Mazuma has the knowledge, expertise, and resources to position itself strategically into a formidable competitor in Vendor Origination and I’m thrilled to be at the helm in this endeavor.  I look forward to building on Mazuma’s already impeccable reputation as a dependable funding source with the highest level of hands on service.”  Said David M. Eckman, VP of Vendor Services.

About Mazuma: Mazuma Capital is committed to our client’s success. Our unique capabilities and innovative product offerings provide solutions accelerating financial growth. Servicing both rising companies and established businesses, Mazuma continues to secure its position as the middle-market industry leader. We build long-term relationships by delivering on our commitments. Mazuma co-authored the Utah Best Practices Alliance and subscribes to the ELFA Code of Fair Business Practices.

# # #

Media Contact: Julie Fuchs, 801-816-0800 Ext. X291, jfuchs@mazumacapital.com

FASB’s Leasing Convergence Timeline Moves to Next Year

Accounting Today reported that in an interview with staff members, FASB board chairman Leslie Seidman said many of the priority projects slated for convergence with the IASB probably won’t be settled until next year at the earliest.

Commenting on the completion of FASB’s re-deliberation discussions with the IASB on the leasing project, Accounting Today quotes Seidman as saying, “We are continuing to work through the issues that were raised with the exposure draft.” Seidman added, “We have already decided to re-expose that as well, which again was an extremely well-received decision because people do want an opportunity to look at the revised conclusions in the context of the standard as a whole.”

Once those discussions conclude late this fall, Seidman said the leasing proposals would be re-exposed for 120 days with the IASB. “Likewise, we’re looking at a timeframe of sometime next spring to start the re-deliberations on leasing, depending on the feedback that we get, and we’re looking at re-deliberations after that, with a goal of trying to conclude leasing in 2012,” Seidman is quoted as saying by Accounting Today.

Read entire article:

http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/FASB-Convergence-Timeline-Moves-Next-Year-60035-1.html