Air Products grows HME business

February 24, 2003 CONSHOCKEN, Pa. - American Homecare Supply, the HME arm of industrial gas giant Air Products, increased is reach through two recent acquisitions. Earlier this month, Air Products acquired C.O.P.D. Services, which provides a wide array of services, including HME, enteral therapy, respiratory equipment/supplies and rehab products. The company serves New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania. The co-founders of C.O.P.D Services, Alan and Christina Bowman, have agreed to remain with American Homecare Supply. On Jan. 31, Air Products announced that it had acquired Lehigh Valley Hospital and Healthcare Network's DME and home respiratory therapy business - previously operated by Health Spectrum Medical Products, a hospital subsidiary. The Health Spectrum's operations acquired by Air Products will become part of Young's Medical. Young's Medical is a division of American Homecare Supply (AHS), which Air Products bought in October for $166 million. Health Spectrum's Allentown, Pa., operation will be merged into Young's facility in Palmer Township. AHS may open a satellite office closer to patients in the Allentown area, AHP CEO Bob Cucuel told The Morning Call in Allentown. Spectrum's Harrisburg, Pa., operations will be folded into Young's Harrisburg office, while Spectrum's Horsham operations will be consolidated with a Young's facility in Lansdale, Cucuel said. Health Spectrum patients will start receiving service from Young's Medical Equipment by March 31. AHS now has branches stretching from New Hampshire south through West Virginia.