In brief: Lincare boosts neb-meds, CarePoint acquires ArTex

TEXARKANA, Texas - Neb-med provider Senior Respiratory Solutions has been sold to Med4Home, Lincare's respiratory pharmacy. Senior Respiratory is one of the largest independent providers of nebulizer medications, according to the HME Databank. In 2009, it was ranked No. 6 in billing for the dispensing fee for inhalation drugs. Senior billed for 14,227 beneficiaries. Lincare and Med4Home ranked Nos. 1 and 2, billing for 169,823 and 61,964 beneficiaries respectively. No details were available at press time.

Providers focus on patients after rare Massachusetts tornado

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - After a tornado hit western Massachusetts June 1, providers there had their hands full taking care of patients, according to Karyn Estrella, executive director of New England Medical Equipment Dealers Association. Providers contacted all patients that relied on electricity for care to ensure their safety and well being, and some required emergency shipments, Estrella said. Provider offices and staff were not harmed, according to a press release, and they are working still to help patient care get reestablished.

CarePoint acquires ArTex Medical infusion business

CINCINNATI - Infusion provider CarePoint Partners has acquired the infusion business of Texarkana, Texas-based ArTex Medical, the company announced June 16. AreTex has locations in Texarkana and Dallas, as well as Shreveport, La. The deal is CarePoint's 13th in less than four years. The provider now serves more than 3,000 patients daily at 25 sites in nine states. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Congressional briefing on rehab set for Thursday

WASHINGTON - A briefing outlining the benefits of rehabilitation will be held for members of Congress and their staffs June 23. Gerard Francisco, the attending rehabilitation physician for Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., will be the featured speaker. Among the topics discussed will be the impact of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and other assistive devices. NCART"s Don Clayback plans to attend and distribute information on the group's separate benefit category initiative.

CMS has new fraud-fighting tool

BALTIMORE - CMS plans to start using predictive modeling technology July 1, in an effort to stop fraudulent Medicare claims before they are paid. The technology is similar to that used by credit card companies. Northrop Grumman, a global provider of advanced information solutions, will develop the technology. The program is part of an initiative included the Affordable Care Act to help fight Medicare fraud, waste and abuse.

Deadline for Form C pushed back

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Palmetto GBA announced last week that the second quarter deadline for bid winners to submit Form C has been pushed to July 29. The form details what items contracts suppliers have provided to beneficiaries under competitive bidding. For more information: www.competitivebid.com.

Rotech to exchange lien notes

ORLANDO, Fla. - Rotech Healthcare announced June 14 that it planned to exchange up to $283.5 million in aggregate principal of its senior second lien notes due 2018 in exchange for private notes tendered by the holders of those notes. The exchange offer expires July 12.

Generex pulls plug on GMD acquisition

WORCESTER, Mass. - A deal for Generex Biotechnology to acquire a majority stake in Global Medical Direct (GMD), a provider of mail order diabetes supplies, is off the table. In October 2010, Generex announced that it planned to buy 51% of the Lenexa-Kan.-based GMD's business in an effort to gain a platform for its over-the-counter and diabetes products as they come to market. Generex said in a June 6 release that it now wants to focus its resources on existing products.

Jurisdiction B DME MAC offers webinar

WASHINGTON - Suppliers who bill oxygen and oxygen equipment may be interested in a webinar offered June 29. National Government Services, the Jurisdiction B DME MAC, will offer a webinar regarding certification and recertification requirements, as well as documentation requirements. The registration deadline is June 27. More information is available here.