In brief: AAH hosts teleconference, AHP perfects the stall

ARLINGTON, Va. - AAHomecare will host a teleconfernce, "Fight 'Competitive' Bidding with Effective PR: How to Work with Your Local Media," this Tuesday at 2 p.m. The teleconference is free for members and $45 for all others. Alissa Hinkson, vice president of Rational 360, AAHomecare's PR and public affairs firm, will speak. To register, go to

http://aahomecare.org/cde.cfm?event=305288.



AHP perfects the stall

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - American HomePatient (AHP) now has until April 16 to pay back about $226 million in debt. The provider announced recently that it has entered into its ninth forbearance agreement with NexBank and other creditors. The debt was first due to be repaid Aug. 1, 2009.



Miss this year's fly-in? Want to go next year?

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare has set a tentative date for its 2011 Washington Legislative Conference: March 16-17.



Acquisition company to buy DME company

LAS VEGAS - Medex, a medical acquisition company, has signed a letter of intent to buy Creative Rehab Technology Services, a Chula Vista, Calif.-based manufacturer of high-end rehab wheelchairs, it announced last week. Creative Rehab produces annual revenues of $1.2 million and net earnings of about $365,000. "Of greater significance," Medex stated in a release, "the company's existing service relationships with Medicare and Medi-Cal offers important channels for new sales of other product lines, as well as ready justification for additional related acquisitions."



People news: Joe Lewarski and Cody Verret

ELYRIA, Ohio, and ROCKY HILL, Conn. - Invacare has promoted Joe Lewarski, former vice president and category manager, respiratory, Invacare Homecare, to vice president clinical affairs. "As Invacare starts to focus on its top line growth, expanding the company's presence in the clinical and academic medical communities is an important part of the strategy," it stated in a release...ATG Rehab has named Cody Verret vice president of sales and marketing. Formerly, Verret was national sales director for Quantum Rehab, a division of Pride Mobility Products.