Briefs

Critical Home Care moves into Illinois PEORIA, ILL. - Critical Home Care has acquired American Oxygen & Medical Equipment, which operates branches in Peoria and Jackson, Ill., and in doing so expanded its growing HME business beyond the borders of New York. Judy Berchelmann, owner of American Oxygen, will remain with the company and help drive sales, not only for American Oxygen but for future acquisitions as well, according to a Critical Home Care release. Critical Home Care also services Long Island and the five boroughs of New York.  It operates four retail stores in Patchogue, Babylon, Woodbury and East Setauket, New York. Critical Home Care is the parent of Arcadia Services, Inc., a national provider of staffing, homecare and related services. Lincare grows revenue despite Medicare cuts CLEARWATER, Fla. - Medicare reimbursement cuts for respiratory medications that took effect in January, reduced Lincare's revenue by $13.5 million in the second quarter. Nevertheless, the company still increased its total revenue by 11% to $315 million over the same period last year. For the first six months of 2004, Lincare's respiratory med revenue dropped $26 million. Lincare acquired 10 companies in the second quarter. During the first half of 2004, Lincare acquired 13 companies with annual revenues of approximately $20 million. Short takes MED Emporium in Charlotte, N.C., is the newest member of the MED Group's Full Service Network. The Lubbock, Texas-based provider network now serves approximately 185 members with nearly 700 locations throughout the United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico... Williams Bros. Health Care Pharmacy, headquartered in Washington, Ind., had joined the MED Group's Purchasing Network ... In Indiana, a woman was ordered to pay $460,000 in restitution for health care fraud. As a billing clerk at a DME supplier, the woman routinely billed Medicaid for more items than were actually provided. In addition, the woman's parents have entered guilty pleas for their involvement in the scheme ... Canada's largest HME franchise, MEDIchair, opened its 60th store in August in Etobicoke, Ontario.